Author: Zahid Noor

KARACHI: Warwickshire County Cricket Club has signed Pakistan experienced right-arm pacer, Hasan Ali, for the County Championship and Vitality Blast.

Taking to Twitter, Lancashire announced the signing with the enterprising fast bowler.

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 | 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗶 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 🇵🇰✍

Pace bowler. @CountyChamp. @VitalityBlast. Until the end of July.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. 💙

📝 https://t.co/6I6mkTog1O

🐻#YouBears | @RealHa55an pic.twitter.com/WBmLHKlsNb

— Bears (@WarwickshireCCC) November 24, 2022

According to the county club, Hasan is likely to represent Warwickshire in the entirety of the upcoming Vitality Blast, including potential knockout games and County Championship until July next year.

Hasan made his County debut in Apil this year while representing Lancashire and took 25 wickets at 20.60. The right-arm pacer announced his arrival in style as he bagged a five-wicket haul on his debut against Kent.

In a statement released by Warwickshire, Hasan experienced his delight over joining the club and is eagerly waiting to join them for the season.

“I’ve got fond memories of playing at Edgbaston and am eagerly awaiting joining up with the squad,”

“I’m delighted to sign for Warwickshire as they are an ambitious club and Edgbaston is a ground I’ve always enjoyed playing at,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that Hasan played 21 Tests for Pakistan and took 77 wickets at a brilliant average of 24.57.

READ: PCB announces match officials for Pakistan-England Tests 

LONDON: England Cricket Board on Wednesday added an 18-year-old British-Pakistani, Rehan Ahmed, to the Test squad for the historic tour of Pakistan, commencing on December 1.

The leg-spinning all-rounder has received his maiden England call-up and if he gets a chance in playing XI during the three-match series against Pakistan, he will become the youngest cricketer to play a Test for England.

Leicestershire’s Rehan is currently part of the England Lions and playing a warm-up game against the senior side during their training camp in Abu Dhabi.

“The 18-year-old, who has been with the Lions in their red-ball training camp in the UAE and is currently playing in the three-day warm-up fixture against the England Test squad in Abu Dhabi, has impressed coaches with his attitude and genuine potential to be given his first call up to the senior side.” said ECB in a press release

England red-ball coach Brendon McCullum praised the youngster’s approach towards the game besides calling him an unfinished article.

“We know he’s not the finished article and has raw potential, but Ben (Stokes), myself and the rest of the coaches like how he approaches his game. The experience of being part of the squad in Pakistan will be hugely beneficial for him, and he will add to the make-up of our squad.” said McCullum as quoted by the ECB release.

On Saturday, England will fly to Pakistan after concluding their Test camp at the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub.

Ben Stokes-led side will arrive in Pakistan on November 27 and after the Test in Rawalpindi, the team will travel to Multan for the second Test from December 9 to 13.

The final match of the tour will be staged at the National Stadium in Karachi, commencing on December 17.

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LONDON: Leicester midfielder James Maddison has been rewarded with a call-up to England team as manager Gareth Southgate on Thursday named a 26-member squad for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

England’s manager has picked a blend of youth and experience into the squad with 13 players set for their first FIFA World Cup while another three heading to their first major senior tournament.

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling will be joining the illustrious list of England players to have featured in three World Cups.

Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, Callum Wilson of Newcastle, Kyle Walker of Manchester City, and Ben White of Arsenal have also been selected by Southgate.

Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips has been included despite injury concerns while Harry Maguire, who was dropped by Manchester United this season, also managed to receive the national call.

England will face Iran in their opening game at Qatar on November 21 before facing the USA and Wales in Group B.

Complete Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Everton, loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United),

Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), James Maddison (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)

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LONDON: Left-arm spinner Jack Leach shared his excitement for England’s historic Test tour to Pakistan, scheduled in December this year.

Leach, who was included in England’s Test squad for the Pakistan tour, announced last week, and termed the series ‘important’ not only for the two nations but also for world cricket, while he is also looking forward to having the opportunity to challenge himself.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to challenge myself out in Pakistan,” he said. “Two strong teams will be competing, so it should be a good series. To be playing back in Pakistan is really exciting, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s an important series for England and Pakistan, but I also think that it’s important for world cricket. In Pakistan, you can feel how passionate the people are about the game, and to have international cricket back in the country is very important. It’s great that we’re able to get out there and play again.”

The Somerset-based spinner further opined regarding England’s unique approach in Test cricket and also expressed his desire that the side takes the approach abroad as well.

“The summer was great fun, and we got some good results,” he explained. “The way that we’re trying to go about things is exciting and it’s bringing out the best in us as a team.

“We’re looking forward to taking that abroad and to playing in the same positive way because we want to be giving the fans something exciting to watch.”

Leach then went on to comment regarding the playing conditions and pitches in Pakistan and asserted that he is trying not to presume things and also to prepare the same way, he does for any series.

“I’ve been told that the wickets are very good out there, so I think we’ll get a mixture. It can start to spin but it can be flat as well. I think you can expect to bowl quite a few overs there as a spinner, but they’ve got a great seam attack so I wouldn’t want to presume anything.

“The key will be to prepare in the same way that I would for any series and be ready for any situation.”

It is pertinent to mention that England will tour Pakistan for a three-match Test series, scheduled from December 1 to 21. Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi will host the three matches respectively.

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MANCHESTER: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar asserted that Pakistan would crash out in the group stage of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 if they opted to go with the same middle-order.

Akhtar, while talking to this reporter here on Tuesday, lambasted the selection criteria of the national men’s cricket team and also predicted their future in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.

“With our current selection merit and this middle-order. I am foreseeing Pakistan crashing out of the World Cup in the early phase,” said Akhtar.

The right-arm pacer then went on to reveal his plans if he gets an opportunity of becoming the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and shared that only those players with impressive performances will come forward.

“If I become the PCB chairman, only the players who show impressive performance will come forward.

“PCB needs to be run like a corporation and we can make a lot of money by doing that.”

READ: Pakistan to face India on Feb 12 in Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 

DUBAI: Pakistan’s former captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram declared the national team ‘favourites’ to lift the Asia Cup while he stressed that the Green Shirts should not take Sri Lanka lightly in the all-important final and learn from the experience of the previous game.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are set to lock horns against each other on Sunday in a bid to become Asian Champions as the enthralling continental tournament draws to an end.

Legendary cricketer, Wasim stated the national team’s batting was below average yet the fast bowling remained impressive in the final dress rehearsal as Sri Lanka comprehensively defeated Pakistan by five wickets on Friday.

“Pakistan’s performance has been phenomenal throughout the Asia Cup. Unfortunately,  our batting didn’t perform well in the last game against Sri Lanka, although our fast bowling was outstanding” he said. ” I hope the team will learn from its mistakes”

“Team’s middle order is struggling. After the dismissal of Babar Azam and Rizwan, they failed to perform due to pressure,” he added.

The 56-year-old claimed the Green Shirts to be his favourites for the final while saying that the young Sri Lankan could not be taken lightly.

Talking about Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s slump with the bat in the ongoing Asia Cup, the legendary pacer expressed optimism that the captain would regain his form in the final.

“Babar is a world-class player. He is in a bit of trouble these days. Let’s hope that he gives his best performance in the final” he concluded.

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DUBAI: Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq confirmed that the changes will be made to the Playing XI for the Asia Cup 2022 Final against Sri Lanka.

Following Pakistan’s disappointing loss to Sri Lanka in the last Asia Cup Super Four match on Friday, Saqlain assured at the post-match press conference that changes would undoubtedly be made to the Playing XI since it was important to give some of our players a rest.

“Fast bowlers are constantly playing and it is important to give them rest. We will learn from mistakes and play with passion in the final against Sri Lanka,” Saqlain said.

“It is certain that there will be changes for the final, some players were rested,” he maintained.

The head coach further opined on Pakistan’s middle-order vows and asserted that he is satisfied with the performance.

“We are playing T20 cricket well, the middle order of all teams are not scoring centuries. I will not comment much on the batting, I am happy and confident,” said Saqlain.

Saqlain then went on to comment on the recent slump in Babar Azam’s performance in the ongoing Asia Cup and stated that the latter is playing decent shots while the luck is not in the right-handed batter’s favour.

“Babar Azam has been playing well, playing good shots, but unfortunately the luck is not favouring him to go on and score big,” he claimed.

It is pertinent to mention here Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by five wickets in a dead rubber Super Four match on Friday before meeting in the final of the Asia Cup 2022.

READ: ‘We’ll not consider Pakistan an easy opponent’ Sri Lankan captain Shanaka 

DUBAI: Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka asserted that his side would not consider Pakistan an easy opponent despite beating the Green Shirts comfortably in the Asia Cup Super Four clash on Friday.

Following Sri Lanka’s comfortable five-wicket victory over Pakistan with 18 balls to spare, Shanaka, in a scheduled press conference, lauded his team’s brilliance in the Super Four stage of the tournament, while claiming that the Islanders would not take Pakistan easily.

“Our team’s performance in the Asia Cup remained quite brilliant. All the players in our team played really well in Super Four,” Shanaka stated.

“We do not consider Pakistan an easy opponent and will come strongly in the final as well,” he added.

Shanaka then went on to emphasize the importance of toss in the ongoing tournament, while also revealing the team’s strategy if they lose the toss in the final.

“The toss is very important in this tournament. If we lose the toss in the final and bat first, then we will try to score plenty of runs in the powerplay,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention here Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by five wickets in a dead rubber Super Four match on Friday before meeting in the final of the Asia Cup 2022.

READ: Pakistan Cricket Board unveils match officials for England T20Is 

LONDON: English Premier League on Friday postponed the upcoming fixtures over the weekend following the demise of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. 

“To honour her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed, including Monday evening’s game,” said the top English football league in a statement.

The statement added that the Premier League would provide further updates regarding upcoming fixtures during the period of mourning in due course.

“We and our clubs would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country,” said Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive.

The matchday seven of the English Premier League which got suspended included the intense encounter between Manchester City and Tottenham while Crystal Palace were set to face Man United.

London-based Arsenal leads the Premier League table so far with 15 points after the first six matches.

READ: Nissanka, spinners shine as Sri Lanka blunt Pakistan before Asia Cup final

LONDON: England recalled opener, Alex Hales, as a replacement for the injured Jonny Bairstow for the forthcoming T20I tour of Pakistan and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. 

According to the details, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday included the explosive opener, Hales, in England’s T20I World Cup squad after Jonny Bairstow has been ruled out of the tournament following a knee ankle injury that he endured last week.

Hales makes a return to the England side after three years as he last represented the country in March 2019.

Hales has also been a key overseas player in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) where he has represented Islamabad United and Karachi Kings in the previous editions.

It is pertinent to mention here that England will be touring Pakistan for the first time after 17 years, to play the seven-match T20I series in Karachi and Lahore from September 20 to October 2.

England Squad for T20 World Cup: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

England Squad for Pakistan T20Is: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Liam Dawson, Richard Gleeson, Alex Hales. Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Luke Wood, Mark Wood.

READ: Rizwan overtakes Babar to clinch top spot in T20I rankings