Author: Zahid Noor

BIRMINGHAM: National player Nasir Iqbal starred in the Men’s Single Squash competition as he handed a crushing defeat to his Jamaican opponent Julian Morrison 3-0 in the Commonwealth Games 2022.

After a dismal start to their Commonwealth Games campaign, Pakistan found a moment to cherish as Nasir claimed the first victory for the nation in the global event.

In the Round of 64 of the Men’s Squash event, Nasir utterly outclassed Morrison by the scores of 3-0 and qualified for the next round. He dominated the Jamaican opponent in each set before running away with a scintillating victory.

Besides Squash, the country had a forgetful opening day at the Games as the national athletes including women’s cricket and badminton teams remained unable to taste success.

Additionally, the medal race for the swimming competition has seen the elimination of both national male and female swimmers. Haseeb Tariq, however, offered a glimmer of hope for the medal as he won the first round but was unable to advance to the final as he finished 35th in the second.

READ: Dar’s fifty goes in vain as Barbados hand Pakistan crushing defeat in CWG

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan athletes remained unable to shine on the opening day of Commonwealth Games 2022 as several participants have been ruled out of the medal race.

As the 12th edition of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games kick-started on July 28, a number of Pakistan athletes remained unable to leave their mark as they struggled in various events.

National athlete Mohammad Afzal, who competed in three apparatuses in gymnastics, could not perform well and has been disqualified from the medal race. Whereas, Salman Baloch suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of his Indian rival in Boxing.

Additionally, the medal race for the swimming competition has seen the elimination of both national male and female swimmers. Haseeb Tariq, however, offered a glimmer of hope for the medal as he won the first round, but was unable to advance to the final as he finished 35th in the second.

The national badminton and women’s cricket teams, however, are yet to start their campaigns in the global event.

READ: Australian soil reaches Pakistan for PCB pitches initiative 

BIRMINGHAM: National wrestler Inam Butt and the captain of Pakistan women’s cricket team Bismah Maroof led the Pakistan contingent as the joint flag-bearers in the opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2022.

In a glittering ceremony, the Pakistan contingent reached for the march past with Bismah and Inam led as the flag-bearers.

The national contingent comprised 103 athletes, coaching staff and officials. Whereas, 68 athletes are partaking in 12 sports in the global event, out of which 27 athletes are female including a 15-member squad of the Pakistan women’s cricket team.

With cricket making its return to the games after a gap of 24 years, Pakistan women’s team will start their CWG campaign today as they take on Barbados. All cricket matches will be played in the T20 format.

Pakistan’s Badminton team, on the other hand, will lock horns with arch-rivals India in their first match, while several athletes will also start their campaign today.

It is pertinent to mention here that 22nd Commonwealth Games will take place here from July 28 to August 8.

READ: Malala Yousafzai addresses the opening ceremony of CWG 2022

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan’s Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the recently-commenced Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022, emphasizing the importance of education for girls.

The glittering ceremony of the global event kick-started when Prince Charles, instead of Queen Elizabeth, read the message of the Queen before declaring the event open.

Malala, on the other hand, represented Pakistan in the star-studded opening ceremony and also emphasized the importance of education in her speech and also with a documentary, aired on the big screens in the stadium.

The Nobel Prize winner shed light on the need and importance of education for girls in the majority of her speech and termed it an honour to represent Pakistan in the CWG opening ceremony.

“I welcome everyone to Birmingham. The young athletes competing at the games are a reminder that every child deserves the chance to reach her full potential and pursue her wildest dreams,” she stated.

“I will continue to work for the rights of girls in Pakistan,” Malala maintained.

It is pertinent to mention here that 22nd Commonwealth Games will take place here from July 28 to August 8. As many as 68 Pakistani athletes are competing in 12 sports, out of which 27 athletes are female including a 15-member squad of the Pakistan women’s cricket team.

READ: Pakistan to announce squad for Netherlands ODIs next week: Sources

LONDON: England’s World Cup hero Ben Stokes has decided to hang his boots from his 11-year prolonged ODI career after the first ODI against South Africa on Tuesday, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed.

Stokes, who made his ODI debut for England in 2011 and represented the 2019 ODI world cup champions in 104 matches, will be calling off his 11-year-long career after the first ODI against South Africa at his home ground Seat Unique Riverside.

The decorated all-rounder scored 2919 runs, including three centuries, and took 74 wickets in his glittering career and played a vital role for England with his unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup against New Zealand and forced the match into a super over before England lifted their maiden ODI world cup title in the most thrilling fashion.

Stokes captained England’s ODI side in 2021 against Pakistan when the majority of their squad tested positive for COVID-19 and produced an astounding result while leading an inexperienced side as England whitewashed Pakistan 3-0.

While announcing his retirement, Stokes claimed that it has been an incredibly tough decision for him to retire from ODIs, while the fact that he can not give his hundred percent to his team and teammates, made it easier to make the decision.

“I will play my last game for England in ODI cricket on Tuesday in Durham. I have decided to retire from this format. This has been an incredibly tough decision to make. I have loved every minute of playing with my mates for England. We have had an incredible journey on the way,” ECB quoted Stokes.

“As hard as a decision as this was to come to, it’s not as hard dealing with the fact I can’t give my teammates 100% of myself in this format anymore. The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it,” he added.

England’s newly-appointed Test captain then went on to claim that three formats are now unsustainable for him, while at the same time assured to give his all to Test cricket and claimed that he can still prove his commitment to T20I cricket.

“Three formats are just unsustainable for me now. Not only do I feel that my body is letting me down because of the schedule and what is expected of us, but I also feel that I am taking the place of another player who can give Jos and the rest of the team their all. It’s time for someone else to progress as a cricketer and make incredible memories like I have over the past 11 years,” he said.

“I will give everything I have to Test cricket, and now, with this decision, I feel I can also give my total commitment to the T20 format,” he added.

READ: Spinners bounce back as Pakistan reduce Sri Lanka to 257/7 on Day 3

LONDON: Leg-spinner Adil Rashid returned after performing Hajj as England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced ODI and T20I squads for the home series against South Africa.

In a recently-announced white-ball contingents, Durham seamer Matthew Potts earned a maiden call-up to the ODI squad following his impressive performance in England’s first four Test matches, whereas, leg-spinner Rashid returned to both squads after missing the series against India.

Besides Rashid, Jonathan Bairstow will also be making a return to the England T20I squad after being given rest for the recently-concluded T20I series against India.

England Test captain Ben Stokes, on the other hand, has been rested from the forthcoming T20I series against South Africa and will also not feature in The Hundred 2022, scheduled in August.

“To manage the workload and fitness of England Men’s Test captain Ben Stokes, he will not feature in the Vitality IT20 series and The Hundred competition, which is due to start next month,” ECB revealed in a statement.

It is pertinent to mention here that England and South Africa will lock horns in a three-match ODI and T20I series, scheduled from July 19 to 31.

England Men’s ODI Squad

Jos Buttler (Lancashire) (captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Curran (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Matthew Potts (Durham), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire)

England Men’s T20I Squad

Jos Buttler (Lancashire) (captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Richard Gleeson (Lancashire), Chris Jordan (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Reece Topley (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire)

ODI Series Schedule

First ODI: July 19
Second ODI: July 22
Third ODI: July 24

T20I Series Schedule

First T20I: July 27
Second T20I: July 28
Third T20I: July 31

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DUBAI: Pakistan star all-rounder Shahid Afridi joined the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) franchise Jammu Janbaz for the upcoming second edition, scheduled in August this year.

Afridi, who withdrew midway from the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), citing his injury vows, is set to make his return to competitive cricket as he will be seen in action for Jammu Janbaz in the second edition of the KPL. The former Pakistan captain will lead Janbaz in the second edition.

Following his inclusion, the star all-rounder claimed that he does not need any farewell as the support of the nation is enough for him.

“I don’t need a farewell for the retirement. The love of the people is too much for me,” Afridi stated.

The King of hearts and a cricketer who has been always ahead of his time, @SAfridiOfficial joins Jammu Janbaz as mentor and we won't be surprised if he plays a few matches as captain as well 😍🔥#JammuJanbaz #CricksLab #KhelJaanBaazoKa #ShahidAfridi #KPL2022 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/d90YPRFmA8

— Jammu Janbaz (@JammuJanbaz) July 5, 2022

The icon player of the Pakistan Junior League (PJL) also opined on the newly-announced league and claimed it will bring new talent to the limelight.

“The Pakistan Junior League will bring more young and talented players to the limelight,” he claimed.

Afridi then went on to share his thoughts on the recently-revealed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Central Contracts 2022-23 and said that the cricket board did injustice to a few players.

“The PCB Central Contracts caused injustice to three to four players,” he concluded.

READ: Sarfaraz, Malik, Imad among overseas players as LPL Draft concludes 

GLASGOW: Former Pakistan captain and the president of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi met the local young cricketers of the United Kingdom here and advised them to focus on performance. 

Inzamam, amid the Zalmi Talent Hunt UK, met the local talent of the country and advised them to focus on cricket and never give up.

“Young cricketers should always keep their focus on performance. Many great cricketers of the world faced failures or difficulties at the beginning of their careers but with high spirits and focus on performance they became great cricketers,” Inzamam told the young cricketers.

The former captain further lifted the spirit of the players and claimed that those who missed out in this year’s talent hunt, will foster in the next one and should not lose hope.

“Those who did not get a chance this year will be given a chance next year but young cricketers should always focus on cricket and performance,” Inzamam stated.

The former head coach of Pakistan also announced that the PSL franchise will further expand their talent hunt to different countries of Europe after the conclusion of the UK talent hunt. He further claimed that the selected players will get a chance to feature in Pakistan’s marquee league.

READ: Pakistan Women’s team’s training session kicks off today 

TAUNTON: South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and Tumi Sekhukhune frustrated the England bowlers with an unbeaten before the rain forced the match to end in a draw.

On the final day of the only Test between England and South Africa, the persistent showers allowed only 43 overs of action.

South Africa resumed the proceedings on the final day at 55/3 and lost two wickets in the first session as the skipper Sune Luus and Lizelle Lee fell after scoring 10 and 33 respectively.

Touring side’s last inning star Kapp and Sekhukhune then displayed grit in brief packages of action and neutralized England bowlers’ attempt to break the partnership before the persistent showers stopped the action moments before the late scheduled Tea and set in long enough to call off the day.

Kapp bettered her last inning’s 150 with an unbeaten 43, while Sekhukhune stood firm with her gritty knock of 33. The nightwacher faced a mammoth 134 deliveries in her marathon innings and powered her side to avoid the defeat.

England’s Nat Sciver for her unbeaten 169 in the first inning and 1/29 with the ball, was awarded the Player of the Match award.

READ: Green, Khawaja star as Australia attain lead on a rain-hit second day

LONDON: The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that the white-ball captain of the National Men’s team – Eoin Morgan, has hung up his boots from international cricket with immediate effect.

In an official statement, the ECB has confirmed that England’s white-ball captain Morgan has called off his 13-years-long career for the country.

"I'm hugely proud of what I have achieved, but what I will cherish and remember most are the memories I made with some of the greatest people I know."#ThankYouMorgs 👏

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2022

Speaking on the occasion, the 35-years-old stated that he got to the decision after careful deliberation and consideration, whereas claimed it to be the right time and right thing for both him and England’s white-ball sides.

“After careful deliberation and consideration, I am here to announce my retirement from international cricket with immediate effect,” Morgan was quoted by the ECB.

“To call time on what has been without a doubt the most enjoyable and rewarding chapter of my career hasn’t been an easy decision, but I believe now is the right time to do so, both for me, personally, and for both England white-ball sides I have led to this point,” he added.

Amid his 13-year international career with England, Morgan became the first captain to lead England to World Cup glory in 2019. The left-handed batter was also a part of England’s 2010 T20 World Cup-winning squad, held in the West Indies.

The left-handed batter is the all-time leading run-scorer and most-capped player for England Men in both ODIs and T20Is. In his record-breaking 225 ODIs, Morgan scored 6,957 runs, including 13 centuries at an average of 39.75.

In his 126 ODIs as captain, Morgan enjoyed 76 victories at the winning percentage of 60 – the best by an England captain in ODIs. In T20Is, however, he captained the England side in 72 matches, equal to India’s MS Dhoni as the most in the limited-overs format.

He also holds the world record for the highest number of sixes in an ODI inning, with 17 against Afghanistan at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

He led England to the top of the ICC world rankings during his seven years as the Men’s ODI captain, winning notable series against all the major nations.

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