Tag: Asia Cup 2022

DUBAI: National Cricket team will be playing its much-anticipated game against the arch-rivals India today wearing black armbands to show solidarity with the flood victims of the country.

According to the details, the Babar Azam-led side will be sporting black armbands in their opening game of the Asia Cup as a gesture of support to the affectees of one of the worst-hit floods in the country.

The team management will also be wearing black armbands along with the players.

Meanwhile, the skipper also announced aid for the flood victims and urged the nation to help the affectees during his press conference on Saturday.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will take on India today in their Asia Cup 2022 opener at Dubai International Stadium as millions of cricket fans of both countries await the greatest rivalry of cricket.  The action will begin at 7:00  PM (PST).

READ: Sindh govt to raise funds for flood victims by screening Pak-India match

DUBAI: Afghan bowlers wreaked havoc on the Sri Lankan batting line before openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz charged the bowlers to outclass Islanders by eight wickets with 59 balls to spare in the opening match of Asia Cup 2022.

Sri Lanka underwent a complete batting collapse as eight of their batters failed to enter the double figures and the team was bowled on 105 after they were put to bat.

Medium pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi remained inspirational with the ball as he grabbed two early wickets, dismissing Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka in the very first over of the game, with Naveen-ul-Haq getting rid of Pathum Nissanka in the next to reduce Sri Lanka on 5-3.

Despite a brief resistance in the middle powered by Danushka Gunathilaka (17) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (38) with a 44-run partnership, Afghanistan attacked with even greater force, storming through the lower order.

Chamika Karunaratne, on the other hand, played a valiant knock of 31 off 38 late in the order to help the side get past the 100-run mark.

For Afghanistan, Fazalhaq produced the sensational bowling figures of 3/11, while Mujeeb ur Rehman and Mohammad Nabi bagged two wickets each.

Set to chase a paltry total, Afghan openers blasted a powerful 83-run opening partnership with Gurbaz taking a toll on Sri Lankan bowlers as he smashed 40 off 18, hitting three boundaries and four gigantic sixes before Hasaranga De Silva bowled him out.

Zazai, on the other hand, scored an unbeaten 37 off 28, laced with five fours and a six to take his team towards a comprehensive victory in the 11th over for the loss of just two wickets.

With the thumping win, Afghanistan raised its chances to qualify for the next round of the tournament as it will now face Bangladesh in the next encounter of Group B on Tuesday.

READ: Sindh govt to raise funds for flood victims by screening Pak-India match

KARACHI: Administrator Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab ordered to telecast the much-awaited clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on big screens across different points of the city to raise funds for the flood victims.

Following this, the high-octane match between Pakistan and India will now be aired live on big screens at Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters, Frere Hall, Hill Park, Safari Park, and Urban Forest Clifton and flood relief camps will be set up simultaneously at the announced locations.

According to the details, Administrator Karachi released the order in a bid to raise funds and display solidarity with the flood victims, while requesting the citizens to deposit donations in the flood relief camps.

“We request the citizens to donate to the flood relief camp as there is an urgent need for tents, rations, medicines, firewood and drinking water for the flood victims in Sindh. The Sindh government is providing aid to the victims, but philanthropists should also participate in this charity because we have to help our brothers and sisters in this difficult time,” Administrator Karachi appealed to the masses.

“The match between traditional rivals Pakistan and India in the Asia Cup is also taking place on Sunday, so to mark the occasion, there will be big screens set up at KMC Head Office, Frere Hall, Safari Park, Hill Park and Urban Forest Clifton along with the flood relief camp. The arrangements will be made to telecast this match so that citizens can enjoy the match and do their humanitarian duty by donating to the flood relief fund,” he further added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the high-octane clash between Pakistan and India is scheduled on August 28.

READ: ‘Babar is the top batsman right now across formats’ says Virat Kohli 

DUBAI: Former Indian captain and top-ranked batter Virat Kohli opened up on his mental issues and revealed that he did not touch his bat for a month for the first time in 10 years.

Virat, who is going through a rough patch in his career, made a shocking revelation regarding his mental conditions and asserted that he did not touch his bat for a month after being rested for the West Indies and Zimbabwe tour.

The right-handed batter, who previously ruled the rankings across all formats, has only one fifty-plus score in his last 22 innings including Indian Premier League (IPL) and international cricket and has spent more than a thousand days without scoring an international century.

Famous for his aggression on the field, the former Indian captain also revealed and acknowledged that he was faking his intensity in the game.

“For the first time in 10 years, I didn’t touch my bat for a month. I came to [the] realisation that I was trying to fake my intensity a bit recently. I was convincing myself that no, you had the intensity. But your body was telling you to stop. The mind was telling me to take a break and step back,” Virat shared in a video posted by Star Sports.

“I’m looked at as a guy who is mentally very strong and I am. But everyone has a limit and you need to recognize that limit, otherwise, things can get unhealthy for you.

“This period taught me a lot of things that I wasn’t allowing to come to surface. When they eventually came up, I embraced it.”

It's @imVkohli like you've never seen him before as he opens up to his fans in a special episode of Virat: Heart To Heart.

Catch it today at 5 PM on Star Sports & Disney+Hotstar.#KingKohli #TeamIndia | #AsiaCup2022 | #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/3GaIJ24SKe

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 27, 2022

 

The star Indian batter also revealed that he felt ‘mentally down’ and further opined about the taboo surrounding mental health.

“I’m not shy to admit that I was feeling mentally down. This is a very normal thing to feel, but we don’t speak because we are hesitant. We don’t want to be looked at as mentally weak. Trust me, faking to be strong is far worse than admitting to be weak,” Virat concluded.

WATCH: Virat Kohli takes selfie with his Pakistani fan stopped by guards 

DUBAI: Former Indian captain Virat Kohli has won the hearts of millions as he took a selfie with a Pakistani fan who was stopped by security guards at the ICC Cricket Academy ahead of Asia Cup 2022.

Ahead of the Asia Cup 2022 that gets underway on Saturday and India vs Pakistan clash on Sunday, fans have flocked to the ICC Academy ground, where the teams are practising.

After completing the practice session on Friday, Virat was making his way back to the team bus when a fan from Lahore came rushing toward him in an attempt to get a picture clicked from the right-handed batter, but was stopped by the security guards.

Initially, the right-handed batter kept walking, oblivious to the presence of this Pakistani fan restricted by security. However, when the fan screamed at Kohli and told him that he has come all the way from Pakistan only to get a picture clicked with him, Virat returned and let his fan took the selfie.

Speaking to a YouTube Channel later, the Pakistani fan – Muhammad Jibran – explained his admiration for the Indian legend.

“I’m not a fan of any player in this world but Virat Kohli, for whom I came all the way from Pakistan in hopes of getting a selfie with and waited a whole month for it,” he said.

Jibran further said: “He [Kohli] was going back to the hotel, but being the extraordinary human he is besides an exceptional cricketer, he agreed to my request for the selfie.”

The fan, who had just checked off his biggest wishlist moment, said he also hoped for Kohli to return to form – even if it meant him finding his feet against Pakistan on August 28.

WATCH: Babar meets Rohit ahead of Pak-India clash in Asia Cup 

DUBAI: Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam met his Indian counterpart, Rohit Sharma, on the sidelines of the training session for the Asia Cup 2022.

Taking to Twitter, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared the footage of the two captains’ meet and greet, which received a lot of attention from cricket fans.

©️ meets ©️#AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/OgnJZpM9B1

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 27, 2022

 

Pakistan and India captains interacted on Friday night before coming face to face at the toss of the high octane clash, scheduled on August 28.

Earlier, former Indian captain Virat Kohli, current vice-captain KL Rahul, and wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant met the injured ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and wished him for his quick recovery as the latter was ruled out of the Asian tournament, owing to a knee injury.

The 15th edition of the Asia Cup will commence on August 27 (today) as the hosts Sri Lanka will take on Afghanistan in a curtain raiser.

READ: Maria to lead Pakistan in SAFF Women’s Championship 2022

DUBAI: Pakistan right-arm pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr has been ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup 2022, and his counterpart Hasan Ali named as the replacement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed.

Wasim Jr, who complained of back pain during the team’s practice session on Thursday before being sent to the hospital for MRI scans, has now been ruled out of the Asian event.

The medical panel of the PCB analyzed the MRI reports of the young pacer and unanimously decided to send him back to the country.

Following Wasim ruling out of the Asian event, experienced pacer Hasan has been named as the replacement and will join the Pakistan contingent after travelling here via the earliest possible flight.

READ: SHC directs Sarfaraz Academy and girls college to reach consensus

DUBAI: Pakistan Cricket Board ended the suspense of millions of cricket fans who were eager to listen to the exact conversation between Pakistan’s injured bowling star Shaheen Afridi and former Indian skipper Virat Kohli as they met during the practice session for the Asia Cup 2022. 

Virat Kohli and other members of the Indian team were seen greeting Shaheen and inquired about his injury in a video posted by PCB on its official Twitter account, however, the conversation between the two stars was inaudible which left many cricket fans on tenterhooks.

PCB shared another video with clear audio of the conversation between the two in which Kohli could be heard asking Shaheen about his injury while the pacer wishes him luck for a strong comeback.

The suspense is over! Let's listen to the conversation between @iShaheenAfridi and @imVkohli 🔊#AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/ttVYLrNtuO

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 26, 2022

Apart from Kohli, Yuzendra Chahal, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul also met the star Pakistani pacer and inquired about his knee injury.

Shaheen has been ruled out of the Asia Cup due to a knee injury as the PCB medical team advised him to rest for a further four to six weeks in order to completely recover from his injury.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain has been included in the squad as a replacement for the left-arm pacer.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will take on the arch-rivals India in their Asia Cup opener on Sunday.

READ: NBP releases players’ salaries after PM revives departmental sports

OMAN: Hong Kong carried on their dream run in the Asia Cup 2022 qualifiers as they thrashed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by eight wickets to storm into the group stage of the event.

In the last match of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup Qualifier 2022, Hong Kong, who edged past Kuwait and Singapore on their way, carried on their exceptional run as they displayed combined bowling and batting effort to sink UAE by eight wickets.

Following their domination on the points table, the associate team made its way into the group stage of the Asian event and joined Pakistan and India in Group A.

Hong Kong will start their campaign against India on August 31 and will take on Pakistan in the last group match of the event on September 2.

At the toss, Hong Kong captain Nizakat Khan invited UAE to bat first after the coin flipped in his favour.

Batting first, UAE could only manage to pose 147 before being bowled out in the 19th over. Captain Chundangapoyil Rizwan led the way with a gritty knock of 49 runs off 44 balls with the help of four boundaries. 

All rounder Zawar Farid, on the other hand, also chipped in as he scored a quick 41 off 27 deliveries, laced with two boundaries and three sixes, while the rest of the batters failed to contribute significantly.

For Hong Kong, Ehsan Khan led the way with four wickets, while Ayush Shukla followed back with three. Aizaz Khan, however, bagged two wickets.

Set to chase 148, Hong Kong comfortably steered over the line in 19 overs, thanks to their top order.

The side were off to a solid start to their run chase as captain Nizakat and Yasim Murtaza laid a solid foundation with an astonishing 85-run partnership.

Nizakat fell 11 short of his well-deserved half-century as he scored a run-a-ball 39, while Yasim stood firm and went on to top score for his side with 58 off 43 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries and a six.

Right-handed batter Babar Hayat also displayed brilliance as he scored an unbeaten 38 off 26 balls and made sure to power his side over the line despite the departure of the openers.

For UAE, only Basil Hameed and Junaid Siddique could manage to bag one wicket apiece.

READ: ‘Our target is to win Asia Cup, not just India-Pakistan match’ Yousuf

LAHORE: Umer Rashid, one of the highly-rated bowling coaches at the National High Performance Centre (NHPC), has been included in the Pakistan men’s side coaching panel as assistant to the fast bowling coach for the Asia Cup.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Umer has been added to the players’ support personnel list on the recommendation of head coach Saqlain Mushtaq.

Umer has worked in the development of all the national side fast bowlers since their early days, including helping Mohammad Hasnain with his bowling action.  In the new role with the national side, Umer will support Pakistan fast bowling coach Shaun Tait in the United Arab Emirates for Asia Cup 2022.

Meanwhile, the national squad has started their training from today for the tournament and its opening clash with arch-rivals India on Sunday.

READ: PCB hires five foreign coaches for Pathway Cricket Programme