Tag: Asia Cup

Ramiz, Wasim, Waqar named in Asia Cup 2023 commentary panel

Posted on by A Sports

The star-studded commentary panel for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023 has been unveiled, featuring renowned voices from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

The Asia Cup 2023 commentary panel features five from India, four from Pakistan and one each from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja, who returned to commentary after an almost two-year hiatus during Pakistan’s two-match away Test series against Sri Lanka last month, is also named in the panel.

Soon after assuming the charge of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ramiz took a break from the commentary and remained involved in running the affairs of the cricketing body till his ouster in December 2022.

Despite his ouster, Ramiz Raja did not immediately return to the commentary role and missed the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the home series against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, he will be accompanied by legendary Pakistan pacers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis alongside Bazid Khan.

Notably, New Zealand’s Scott Styris was named in the panel as a neutral voice.

Commentary panel for Asia Cup 2023:

Ravi Shastri, Sanjay Manjrekar, Russel Arnold, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Scott Styris, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Athar Ali Khan, Deep Dasgupta, Ramiz Raja, Bazid Khan.

This year’s Asia Cup will kick off with host Pakistan taking on Nepal in the curtain raiser on August 30 in Multan.

Pakistan will host a total of four matches including a Super 4s fixture.

India’s group stage matches including the anticipated clash against Pakistan, scheduled on September 2, will be held in Kandy while the rest of the Super 4s matches, including the final will be played in Colombo.

The arch-rivals Pakistan and India will come face to face again on September 10 in Colombo if both manage to qualify for the Super 4s.

Like the previous edition, the Asia Cup schedule holds a possibility of treating the cricket fans with a maximum of three Pakistan-India matches in a single tournament if both arch-rivals, in a first, simultaneously qualify for the final.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, divided into two groups, the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super 4s. The continental event will run from August 31 to September 17.

Hosts Pakistan are placed in the same group as arch-rivals India and Nepal while the other group includes defending champions and co-hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format and will serve as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup.

READ: Asia Cup tickets to go on sale from Saturday: PCB

PCB confirms team management for Afghanistan series, ACC Asia Cup

Posted on by shahzad.malik

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today confirmed the team management of the Pakistan men’s team for the forthcoming three ODIs against Afghanistan and the ACC Asia Cup.

An 18-player squad will take on Afghanistan in Sri Lanka from 22 to 26 August and it will be trimmed to 17 players for the Asia Cup, which begins from the Multan Cricket Stadium on 30 August when Pakistan play Nepal.

The three-match ODI series against Afghanistan will serve as an opportunity for Babar Azam’s men to bolster their preparations for the Asia Cup before they travel to India for this year’s ICC Men’s World Cup.

For a packed schedule ahead, the PCB confirmed retaining the team management, led by the director of Pakistan men’s cricket Mickey Arthur and manager Rehan-ul-Haq.

Additionally, the coaching staff for the Pakistan men’s cricket team was also retained with Andrew Puttick and Morne Morkel continuing in their roles as batting and bowling coaches, respectively, and Grant Bradburn serving as head coach with Abdul Rehman acting as his deputy.

Pakistan men’s team will play the opening match of the ACC Asia Cup in Multan on 30 August against Nepal.

Player support personnel: Rehan-ul-Haq (team manager), Mickey Arthur (Director – Pakistan men’s team), Grant Bradburn (head coach), Andrew Puttick (batting coach), Morne Morkel (bowling coach), Aftab Khan (fielding coach), Abdul Rehman (assistant coach), Dr Sohail Saleem (team doctor), Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi (media manager), Lt Col Usman Anwari (Retd) (security manager), Ammar Ahsan (digital content producer, only for Asia Cup), Maqbool Ahmad Babri (psychologist), Talha Ejaz (analyst) and Malang Ali (masseur).

READ: Shakib Al Hasan named Bangladesh captain for Asia Cup, ICC World Cup

Asia Cup tickets to go on sale from Saturday: PCB

Posted on by shahzad.malik

The tickets for the Pakistan leg of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023 will go on sale from Saturday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday.

According to the PCB, the ticket prices have been set at affordable rates keeping in view the return of the Asia Cup in Pakistan after 15 years so the fans can watch the Pakistan and Asian cricket stars in action up close.

In the first phase, the prices for the VIP and Premium enclosures at the Multan Cricket Stadium and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will be unveiled. On the 76th Independence Day, the prices for the First Class and General enclosures will be announced.

These announcements will be made through the Pakistan Cricket Board’s official social media channels.

The details of the Sri Lanka leg tickets will be announced in due course.

This year’s Asia Cup will kick off with host Pakistan taking on Nepal in the curtain raiser on August 30 in Multan.

Pakistan will host a total of four matches including a Super 4s fixture.

India’s group stage matches including the anticipated clash against Pakistan, scheduled on September 2, will be held in Kandy while the rest of the Super 4s matches, including the final will be played in Colombo.

The arch-rivals Pakistan and India will come face to face again on September 10 in Colombo if both manage to qualify for the Super 4s.

Like the previous edition, the Asia Cup schedule holds a possibility of treating the cricket fans with a maximum of three Pakistan-India matches in a single tournament if both arch-rivals, in a first, simultaneously qualify for the final.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, divided into two groups, the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super 4s. The continental event will run from August 31 to September 17.

Hosts Pakistan are placed in the same group as arch-rivals India and Nepal while the other group includes defending champions and co-hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format and will serve as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup.

READ: Spain hit extra-time winner to reach World Cup semi-finals for first time

Pakistan’s squad for Afghanistan ODIs, Asia Cup 2023 unveiled

Posted on by A Sports

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the head of the national men’s selection committee, today announced Pakistan’s squads for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023 and the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.

An 18-player squad will take on Afghanistan in Sri Lanka from 22 to 26 August and it will be trimmed to 17 players for the Asia Cup, which begins from the Multan Cricket Stadium on 30 August when Pakistan play Nepal.

Pakistan’s Squad:

Openers: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq

Middle order: Babar Azam (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir and Saud Shakeel (only for Afghanistan series).

Wicketkeepers: Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris

Spinners: Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir

Pace all-rounder: Faheem Ashraf

Pacers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi 

Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf and Saud Shakeel have been included in the Pakistan squad for the Afghanistan series. Shan Masood and Ihsanullah are the two players from the squad that played New Zealand in the five ODIs in April and May to miss out.

Faheem returns to the side after two years and further adds to the balance of the side as a fast-bowling all-rounder. His last outing in the format was during Pakistan’s three-match away series against England in July 2021. 

This is Tayyab’s second call-up in the ODI side. His maiden call-up came ahead of the three ODIs against New Zealand in January following a stellar show in the Pakistan Cup 2022-23 that saw him finish as the leading run-getter in the event.

The right-handed middle-order batter recently struck a scintillating century to orchestrate Pakistan Shaheens’ thumping 128-run win over India A in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup final.

Saud, who does not feature in the Asia Cup squad, has played five ODIs and his last was in March 2022 when Pakistan chased down 348 against Australia with six wickets in hand in Lahore. 

Shan has missed out on selection following a string of low scores, while Ihsanullah is undergoing a rehabilitation programme under the observation of the PCB’s medical panel following an injury in his bowling elbow. 

The team will assemble in Hambantota on 18 August with the players in Pakistan departing on 17 August. The players in Pakistan will hold a three-day camp on 14, 15 and 16 August at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore.

The squad was finalised following consultations between the national men’s selection committee – which also includes Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn and Hassan Cheema (secretary) – and Pakistan captain Babar Azam.

Players participating in Lankan Premier League and The Hundred will join the squad directly in Sri Lanka on 18 August.

READ: Rahmanullah Gurbaz calls Babar Azam ‘Legend’

Rohit Sharma hesitant to pick toughest Pakistani bowler

Posted on by A Sports

India’s all-format captain Rohit Sharma dodged a question regarding the toughest bowler in Pakistan’s arsenal currently in a bid to avoid controversy.

During a private event in the United States of America (USA), Sharma was asked to name the toughest bowler in the Pakistan team currently.

Sharma, however, ducked the question by stating that it would create a massive controversy.

“All the pacers in the Pakistan team are equally good. I will not pick any individual. It creates a big controversy,” he said.

He emphasized that naming an individual bowler would erroneously make others feel slighted and therefore chose to recognise the overall splendour of Pakistan’s fast bowling lineup.

“If I will take one player’s name, the second will feel bad. If I will take the second player’s name, then the third will feel bad. I think all of them are good,” he added.

It is worth mentioning here that in March 2016, Rohit Sharma called left-arm Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir a “normal bowler” and asserted the hype around the latter was unjustified.

He then drew an indirect comparison between Amir and Jasprit Bumrah and instead called the latter a “rare talent”.

“Stop talking about him already,” Rohit said of Amir. “He isn’t the only bowler, Pakistan have five other bowlers who are doing well for them.

“There is just so much hype around him, I don’t think it is right to give him too much hype after one match. He is good but he needs to prove it over and over again. Now people are comparing him to Wasim Akram and all that. He is just a normal bowler, on that given day if he is good, he is good. It is not as if he turns up and blows everyone away.”

“Bumrah is already starting to make a mark. I would tell you that instead of talking about Amir you should talk about Bumrah. A rare talent like Bumrah … he is young and the way he has begun his career – he has a long way ahead no doubt – I think he will do something special for the country.

“He is an exception. He will come up with a surprise,” Rohit Sharma said. “Like I was standing in the slip the other night in the finals and I couldn’t make out what he is going to do. Even the captain doesn’t know.
“He has got a good yorker, he has got a good bouncer, a good slower one. He has got all what a modern day bowler needs. His action is like that when Malinga first came, and when I played him at the nets for the first time it was difficult. You don’t play such bowlers everyday – I know only two bowlers in the world – [Lasith] Malinga and Bumrah – who have such unique actions.”Rohit Sharma’s remarks about Mohammad Amir did not go well with the Pakistan fans, who lashed out at the Indian opener.

READ: PCB restores Sarfraz Nawaz’s pension

Asia Cup 2023 promo released, leaves cricket fans in awe

Posted on by A Sports

With this year’s Asia Cup around the corner, Star Sports on Friday dropped an entertaining promo to hype up the continental event, scheduled to commence on August 30.

The 45-second video features intense visuals from the previous editions of the tournament.

It features the remarkable rivalry between Pakistan vs India, Pakistan vs Afghanistan and Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka.

 

The Asia Cup promo, unlike the recently-released World Cup promo, received praise from cricket fans for covering all elements and giving a fair share to each of the participating nations.

https://twitter.com/Nazalytics/status/1687268034195685376

 

This year’s Asia Cup will kick off with host Pakistan taking on Nepal in the curtain raiser on August 30 in Multan.

Pakistan will host a total of four matches including a Super 4s fixture.

India’s group stage matches including the anticipated clash against Pakistan, scheduled on September 2, will be held in Kandy while the rest of the Super 4s matches, including the final will be played in Colombo.

The arch-rivals Pakistan and India will come face to face again on September 10 in Colombo if both manage to qualify for the Super 4s.

Like the previous edition, the Asia Cup schedule holds a possibility of treating the cricket fans with a maximum of three Pakistan-India matches in a single tournament if both arch-rivals, in a first, simultaneously qualify for the final.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, divided into two groups, the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super 4s. The continental event will run from August 31 to September 17.

Hosts Pakistan are placed in the same group as arch-rivals India and Nepal while the other group includes defending champions and co-hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format and will serve as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup.

READ: Tamim Iqbal quits ODI captaincy, ruled out of Asia Cup

Tamim Iqbal quits ODI captaincy, ruled out of Asia Cup

Posted on by A Sports

Tamim Iqbal on Friday, announced to step down as Bangladesh’s ODI captain after he was ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup due to his recurring back injury, unlikely to heal in time.

Iqbal announced shocking retirement from international cricket last month citing his battle with injuries. However, he withdrew his retirement two days later after a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who requested him to reverse his decision.

Tamim Iqbal also revealed that he had already informed PM Hasina about his decision to step down as skipper, and also discussed it with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan and cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus.

“I believe injury is an issue,” Tamim said. “I have told them [the board] about the problem. I have always helped the team over everything else. So keeping that in mind, stepping down is the best possible decision. I want to give my best as a player whenever the opportunity comes. I have spoken to the prime minister, and she understood.”

He believes that him stepping down as captain is in the best interests of the team going forward. He said, “I think the [captaincy] journey has been fantastic. The results speak for themselves. I told Papon bhai [Nazmul Hassan] that it would have been very selfish of me if I had stayed on as captain. Whoever knows me, knows that I put the team ahead of myself.”

BCB president expressed his shock at Tamim’s decision, “It is certainly a shock for us. We were not prepared for this decision. We have to now name an ODI captain at least till the World Cup; it won’t be for one or two series.”

BCB is expected to announce the captain of the ODI team to lead the team till the World Cup. As things stand, opening batter Litton Das is the favourite to lead the team on permanent basis after being the interim captain during the Afghanistan series. Bangladesh has won three out of five games under Litton Das.

Jalal Yunus is expecting that Tamim Iqbal will be fit in time for the home series against New Zealand. “He has been advised to rest for two weeks, till August 11, after which he will resume his rehab. But he can only return to the nets in another two weeks. By that time, we are leaving for Asia Cup, on August 26.” He added, “If he undergoes surgery, returning [soon] will be very difficult. He is unlikely to do that, so we are expecting him to return for the New Zealand series.”

The star batter is also hoping to return to the team for the New Zealand series and be a part of the World Cup, which is most probably going to be his last. “I want to play the New Zealand series in the best possible shape. We could have rushed it for the Asia Cup but we are opting against it. I am very hopeful that I will be available for the World Cup” he said.

Tamim Iqbal has been a mainstay of the national ODI team since making his debut in 2007. He has scored 8313 runs in ODI cricket with the help of 14 hundreds, most by any Bangladesh batter.

READ: Alex Hales bids adieu to international cricket

Pakistan to play ODI series against Afghanistan ahead of Asia Cup

Posted on by shahzad.malik

Pakistan men’s cricket team will tour Sri Lanka to play Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series in August, prior to the Asia Cup 2023, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Monday.

The two teams will play the first two matches in Hambantota on 22 and 24 before they travel to Colombo for the final ODI on 26.

These three matches will provide Babar Azam’s side with an opportunity to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the 50-over ACC Men’s Asia Cup, which begins on 30 August with Pakistan playing Nepal at the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium.

The national men’s side will assemble in Sri Lanka on 17 August and will train on 19, 20 and 21 August.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have played four ODIs and Pakistan have won all of them. The two sides last played each other in the format in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.

This year’s Asia Cup will kick off with host Pakistan taking on Nepal in the curtain raiser on August 30 in Multan.

Pakistan will host a total of four matches including a Super 4s fixture.

India’s group stage matches including the anticipated clash against Pakistan, scheduled on September 2, will be held in Kandy while the rest of the Super 4s matches, including the final will be played in Colombo.

The arch-rivals Pakistan and India will come face to face again on September 10 in Colombo if both manage to qualify for the Super 4s.

Like the previous edition, the Asia Cup schedule holds a possibility of treating the cricket fans with a maximum of three Pakistan-India matches in a single tournament if both arch-rivals, in a first, simultaneously qualify for the final.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, divided into two groups, the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super 4s. The continental event will run from August 31 to September 17.

Hosts Pakistan are placed in the same group as arch-rivals India and Nepal while the other group includes defending champions and co-hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format and will serve as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup.

READ: Galle Titans seal dramatic super over win over Dambulla Aura

ACC President Shah unveils Asia Cup schedule before PCB chair’s presser

Posted on by shahzad.malik

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah revealed the anticipated Asia Cup schedule on Twitter, minutes before the schedule and trophy unveiling ceremony called by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Taking to Twitter, Shah unveiled the schedule of the continental event, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan.

“I am happy to announce the schedule for the highly anticipated Men’s ODI [Asia Cup 2023], a symbol of unity and togetherness binding diverse nations together! Let’s join hands in the celebration of cricketing excellence and cherish the bonds that connect us all,” wrote Shah.

It is worth mentioning that Shah’s tweet came just around half an hour prior to PCB chair Zaka Ashraf’s press conference to announce the schedule of the tournament, followed by a trophy unveiling ceremony.

As per the schedule shared by Shah, this year’s Asia Cup will kick off with host Pakistan taking on Nepal in the curtain raiser on August 30 in Multan.

Pakistan will host a total of four matches including a Super 4s fixture.

India’s group stage matches including the anticipated clash against Pakistan, scheduled on September 2, will be held in Kandy while the rest of the Super 4s matches, including the final will be played in Colombo.

The arch-rivals Pakistan and India will come face to face again on September 10 in Colombo if both manage to qualify for the Super 4s.

Like the previous edition, the Asia Cup schedule holds a possibility of treating the cricket fans with a maximum of three Pakistan-India matches in a single tournament if both arch-rivals, in a first, simultaneously qualify for the final.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, divided into two groups, the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super 4s. The continental event will run from August 31 to September 17.

Hosts Pakistan are placed in the same group as arch-rivals India and Nepal while the other group includes defending champions and co-hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format and will serve as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup.

READ: Qasim Akram recovers Pakistan Shaheens to 205 against India A

Zaka Ashraf invites Jay Shah to watch Asia Cup matches in Pakistan

Posted on by Shahid Hashmi

DURBAN: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee Zaka Ashraf invited Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah to watch Asia Cup matches in Pakistan, ARY News reported.

As per details, the PCB Management Committee chairman met the BCCI secretary Jay Shah in Durban South Africa on the sidelines of the CEC meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s annual session in Durban, South Africa and both agreed to continue meetings and strengthen the cricketing relations.

Sources claimed that BCCI Secretary accepted Ashraf’s invitation to watch Asia Cup matches in Pakistan before also extending an invitation to the PCB head for ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 in India.

Ashraf, in a bid to strengthen the cricketing ties between two neighbouring countries, also accepted the invitation.

Zaka Ashraf told the BCCI secretary that the people of Pakistan are famous for their hospitality and they know how to value their guests. This is a new beginning and the meetings will continue, he added.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), last month, accepted the hybrid model proposed by the PCB and confirmed the hosts and schedule of the Asia Cup 2023.

“We are delighted to announce that the Asia Cup 2023 will be held from 31st August to 17th September 2023 and will see the elite teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal, compete in a total of 13 exciting ODI matches,” the ACC said in a statement.

The multi-national tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka despite massive opposition by the BCCI.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, divided into two groups, the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super 4s.

Hosts Pakistan are placed in the same group as arch-rivals India and Nepal while the other group includes defending champions and joint-host Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format and will serve as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup.

READ: Dambulla to host Pakistan vs India clash as Asia Cup schedule ‘finalised’