Category: ICC World T20

‘Dedicating this win to Pakistan’s security forces’ Hafeez

Posted on by A Sports

SHARJAH: Experienced cricketer Mohammad Hafeez dedicated Pakistan’s win against New Zealand in T20 World Cup to the country’s security forces. 

Taking to Twitter after Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets, Hafeez dedicated the victory to security forces in connection to Kewis’ withdrawal from the Pakistan tour citing security concerns.

“Dedicating this win to all security forces of Pakistan. Well done boys keep working hard for the cup In Shaa Allah. Pakistan Zindabad,” he wrote. 

It must be noted here that New Zealand left Pakistan tour just before the start of the first ODI between the two teams in Rawalpindi, citing security concerns. Pakistani forces ensured foolproof security to the touring party but they left the country for unknown security threats.

READ: Shoaib Akhtar trolls New Zealand before their match against Pakistan

‘From criticism to fan following’ Asif, Haris win heart on internet

Posted on by A Sports

SHARJAH: Asif Ali and Haris Rauf performed outstandingly in their departments to help Pakistan notch second consecutive victory in the T20 World Cup 2021. 

Asif scored match-winning 27 runs whereas Haris picked up his T20I career-best 4-22 to help Pakistan restrict New Zealand to 134-8 in the seventh match of the event.

With their top-class performances, the two cricketers finally caught the limelight and their critics turned into their fans within no time.

Here’s how Pakistanis reacted to these two performing at their best;

https://twitter.com/waqasakhter077/status/1453048739145437184

https://twitter.com/UmairSayss_/status/1452583121862410240

https://twitter.com/Usama___Ahmad/status/1453053700860170244

Pakistan is currently at the top of Group 2’s points table by winning their first two matches. They will now face Afghanistan on October 29.

READ: ‘They need security inside ground’ Shoaib Akhtar takes jibe at NZ

‘They need security inside ground’ Shoaib Akhtar takes jibe at NZ

Posted on by A Sports

SHARJAH: Pakistan’s former pacer Shoaib Akhtar took a jibe at the New Zealand cricket team after they were restricted to 134-8 by Pakistani bowlers in their T20 World Cup fixture on Tuesday. 

Taking to Twitter, Akhtar said New Zealand team needs security inside the ground.

“I think today NZ needs security inside the ground,” he wrote.

Before the game began, the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ said that Pakistan fans in Sharjah should stay mum as the match may get cancelled due to excessive noise inside the stadium if not for security reasons.

He was referring to New Zealand’s cancellation of the Pakistan tour moments before the start of the first ODI in Rawalpindi in September.

READ: Shoaib Akhtar trolls New Zealand before their match against Pakistan

Shoaib Akhtar trolls New Zealand before their match against Pakistan

Posted on by A Sports

KARACHI: Former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar wittily asked Pakistani spectators in Sharjah Stadium to remain silent otherwise New Zealand will quit the match against Green Shirts. 

Taking to Twitter, Akhtar trolled the Black Caps following their withdrawal from the Pakistan tour at the 11th hour citing security concerns.

“I request all Pakistan fans to remain silent and not enjoy too extravagantly. There is every chance that New Zealand may ask for the match to be called off due to too much noise inside the stadium, if not for security concerns,” he said.

Pakistan and New Zealand are about to take each other in T20 World Cup contest in Sharjah.

READ: 🔴Pakistan win toss, decide to bowl first against NZ in T20 World Cup 2021

Pakistan beat New Zealand to retain dominance in T20 World Cup

Posted on by Muzamil Asif

Pakistan won by five wickets to remain at top of the points table of Group 2

PAK 135/5 (18.4 overs)

Boult bowls

Pakistan need nine runs to win off 12 balls

PAK 126-5 (18 overs)

Santner bowls his last over

PAK 111-5 (17 overs)

Southe bowls his last over

PAK 98-5 (16 overs)

Sodhi to bowl his fourth over

PAK 91-5 (15 overs)

Boult joins the bowling attack again

PAK 82-4 (14 overs)

Sodhi continues

PAK 75-4 (13 overs)

Neesham comes again

PAK 70-4 (12 overs)

Sodhi comes in

PAK 63-3 (11 overs)

Santner comes back

PAK 58-2 (10 overs)

Neesham continues

PAK 47-2 (9 overs)

Ish Sodhi to bowl his first over

PAK 39-1 (8 over)

James Neesham joins the bowling attack

PAK 36-1 (7 overs)

Santner has been given bowling after powerplay

PAK 30-1 (6 over)

5.1: Inside edge and Babar got out off Southee

Southee comes to bowl his third

PAK 28-0 (5 overs)

Boult comes again

PAK 22-0 (4 overs)

Southee continues

PAK 14-0 (3 overs)

Trent Boult joins bowling

PAK 9-0 (2 overs)

Tim Southee joins bowling from the other end

PAK 7-0 (1 over)

Babar, Rizwan come out to bat for Pakistan. Mitchel Santner starts bowling from New Zealand

PAKISTAN VS NEW ZEALAND (2nd INNINGS)

Pakistan need 135 runs to win their second match in T20 World Cup 2021

NZ 134-8 (20 overs)

Haris to bowl last over for Pakistan

NZ 125-7 (19 overs)

Shaheen to bowl his last over

NZ 119-6 (18 overs)

Two wickets for Haris

Haris comes again

NZ 116-4 (17 overs)

Shaheen comes back

NZ 107-4 (16 overs)

Hasan continues

NZ 100-4 (15 overs)

Haris comes back

NZ 95-4 (14 overs)

13.1: Direct throw from Hasan off his delivery, Kane Williamson gets run-out

Hasan comes back

NZ 90-3 (13 overs)

Shadab continues

NZ 75-3 (12 overs)

Hafeez continues

NZ 63-3 (11 overs)

Shadab joins back

NZ 60-3 (10 overs)

9.1: James Neesham went for a big shot but didn’t connect it well, ball went straight in the hands of Fakhar Zaman. Hafeez strikes on his first ball

Hafeez comes to bowl the left-hander

NZ 56-2 (9 overs)

8.2: Imad makes comeback after receiving a sixer. Daryl Mitchel went for another one but this time caught at long-on

Imad continues

NZ 48-1 (8 overs)

Shadab joins the attack

NZ 47-1 (7 overs)

Imad joins back

NZ 42-1 (6 overs)

5.2: Martin Guptill was deceived by Haris Rauf and the ball hit his pads, went to thrash the stumps

Haris Rauf brought into attack

NZ 39-0 (5 overs)

Hasan Ali comes to bowl

NZ 21-0 (4 overs)

Imad continues

NZ 15-0 (3 overs)

Shaheen continues

NZ 7-0 (2 overs)

Imad comes into the attack

NZ 0-0 (1 over)

Maiden over from Shaheen

Shaheen to bowl first over for Pakistan

PAKISTAN VS NEW ZEALAND (1ST INNINGS)

SHARJAH: Pakistan have won the toss and decided to bowl first against New Zealand in seventh match of the T20 World Cup 2021 here at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. 

SQUADS

PAKISTAN: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi

NEW ZEALAND: Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Tim Seifert †, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

CSA to take action against De Kock for withdrawing from T20 WC’s game

Posted on by A Sports

DUBAI: Cricket South Africa (CSA) took notice of wicket-keeper batsman Quinton De Kock’s decision to withdraw from match against West Indies on Tuesday in light of their directive to ‘take a knee’ in support of Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM). 

In a statement released after the happening, CSA said they stand against racism and will take action on the matter after receiving a report from team management.

“After considering all relevant issues, including the freedom of choice of players, the Board had made it clear it was imperative for the team to be seen taking a stand against racism, especially given SA’s history. The Board’s view was that while diversity can and should find expression in many facets of daily lives, this did not apply when it came to taking a stand against racism,” the statement read.

“Concerns were raised that the different postures taken by team members in support of the BLM initiative created an unintended perception of disparity or lack of support for the initiative,

“After considering all relevant issues, including the position of the players, the Board felt that it was imperative for the team to be seen taking a united and consistent stand against racism, especially given SA’s history,” CSA said.

READ: Afghanistan thrash Scotland by 130 runs

‘Cricket mere liye sab kuch hai’ confident Rizwan on a mission for Pakistan

Posted on by A Sports

SHARJAH: Stand-out performer in Pakistan vs India contest, Mohammad Rizwan tells his philosophy which took him from nowhere to one of the finest cricketers in Pakistan team right now.

In a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Rizwan told three things ‘Practice, Performance, Honesty’ made him what he is today.

“I always believed in three things, Performance, Practice, and Honesty. These three things describe me and help me excel on the ground,” he shared.

Rizwan

“I plan the toughest practice sessions for myself as said by one of my mentors, Inzamam-ul-Haq. The tough you practice, the more you perform. Performance is something that keeps you in the run. And, honesty is what our religion teaches us. Honesty in practice and everything you do, takes you at higher level,” he explained.

Rizwan said cricket is his passion and everything in his life. “Cricket mera Junoon hai. Cricket mere liye sab kuch hai [Cricket is my passion, Cricket is everything for me],” he said.

It must be noted here that Rizwan played an anchor role for Pakistan in their 10-wickets victory against India, which was their first-ever victory in T20 World Cup against the arch-rivals.

READ: WATCH: ‘Jeeja Ji, Jeeja Ji’ fans tease Malik at boundary, Sania loves it

SA chase 144 easily to give WI second consecutive defeat in T20 WC

Posted on by A Sports

DUBAI: Evin Lewis provided a solid start to West Indies as they kept the upper hand initially before South Africa came back and hold the opponents at 143-8 in the sixth game of the T20 World Cup 2021.

Lewis kept his nerves calm and controlled as West Indies were losing wickets after regular intervals. A 73-runs opening partnership between Lewis and Lendl Simmons provided a steady start to the defending champions.

Lewis’s share in the partnership was major and he ended up scoring 56 runs off 35 balls with the help of three boundaries and six maximums.

Keshav Maharaj bagged his wicket in the 11th over to make a way for South Africa to come back in the game. Thereafter, West Indies suffered pressure as they kept losing wickets.

Only skipper Kieron Pollard was able to make a break with his quick 26 off 20 balls including two boundaries and a six.

Dwaine Pretorius bagged quick three wickets in the end which helped South Africa restrict West Indies to 143-8.

Maharaj took two wickets while Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada shared a wicket apiece.

TOSS

South Africa won the toss and decided to field first against West Indies in the sixth match of the T20 World Cup 2021.

More to follow…

Afghanistan thrash Scotland by 130 runs

Posted on by A Sports

Afghanistan thrashed Scotland by 130 runs in their ICC T20 World Cup group stage fixture in Sharjah on Monday.

The winning side, after being sent to bat first, put on a solid batting performance and finished at 190 at the loss of four wickets thanks to a half-century by Najibullah Zadran.

The left-handed batsman made 59 off 34 deliveries with the help of five boundaries and three sixes.

Rahmanullah Gurbuz hit a four and four maximum on his way to 37-ball 46.

Opening batter Hazratullah Zazai scored 40 off 30 balls with three boundaries and as many sixes.

Safyaan Sharif picked up two wickets whereas Josh Davey and Mark Watt took a wicket each as well.

In reply, the side was dismissed for just 60 on the board in 10.2 overs. George Munsey scored 25 followed whereas Chris Greaves and skipper Kyle Coetzer made 12 and 10 respectively.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman took a five-wicket haul whereas Rashid Khan got four wickets. Naveen-ul-Haq also bagged a wicket as well.

WATCH: ‘Jeeja Ji, Jeeja Ji’ fans tease Malik at boundary, Sania loves it

Posted on by A Sports

DUBAI: Sania Mirza finally gave reply to a funny video of cricket fans teasing her husband and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik at the boundary during Pakistan vs India contest in T20 World Cup 2021. 

A video went viral on social media in which some Indian spectators from October 24 match teased Malik fielding at the boundary by calling ‘Jeeja Ji, Jeeja Ji’. Malik turned to the fans for a while but hadn’t responded.

However, this video managed to gain the attention of his wife Sania who is also an Indian tennis star.

Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets thanks to Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for splendid batting and Shaheen Shah Afridi for an exceptional spell. Rizwan scored the highest 78 runs followed by Babar’s 68. Shaheen bagged three crucial wickets to set the base for Pakistan in the match.

READ: ‘We want to take cricket relations forward with India’ PM Imran Khan