Faisal Akram Archives

Akram, Jamal released from Pakistan squad for South Africa series

LAHORE: All-rounder Aamir Jamal and uncapped left-arm wrist spinner Faisal Akram have been released from Pakistan’s expanded Test squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa.

On 30 September, an 18-member squad was announced for the series, and it was indicated that it would be trimmed ahead of the first Test.

Aamir has played eight Tests for Pakistan, while Faisal is yet to make his debut.

The opening Test of the series, scheduled to begin on October 12, will mark the start of the World Test Championship (WTC) campaign for both teams.

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South Africa will enter the field as the defending champions, having defeated Australia earlier this year, while Pakistan will look to start the series on a strong note, after finishing at the bottom in the previous cycle.

Notably, this will be the Proteas’ first tour of Pakistan since January 2021, when they faced a 2-0 defeat.

Shan Masood will continue to captain Pakistan with an experienced batting order shaping the lineup of the home team.

Pakistan Updated squad for Test series vs South Africa

Shan Masood (capt), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pakistan vs South Africa fixtures

Oct 12-16: 1st Test, Lahore
Oct 20-24: 2nd Test, Rawalpindi
Oct 28: 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
Oct 31: 2nd T20I, Lahore
Nov 1: 3rd T20I, Lahore
Nov 4: 1st ODI, Faisalabad
Nov 6: 2nd ODI, Faisalabad
Nov 8: 3rd OD, Faisalabad

READ: Rain washes out opening day of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

Faisal Akram holds nerves as Pakistan Shaheens clinch last-ball thriller against Nepal

DARWIN: Faisal Akram helped Pakistan Shaheens edge past Nepal by one run in the 30th fixture of the Top End T20 series here at Marrara Cricket Ground on Friday.

Chasing a modest target of 144 runs, Nepal fell just one run short and could manage to score 143-7 in 20 overs.

With eight required in the last over, Faisal Akram held his nerves and ensured that Pakistan Shaheens ended on the winning side.

The drama unfolded in the last over with Nepal scoring four runs in the first two deliveries. However, wicket-keeper Ghazi Ghori displayed presence of mind and stumped Kushal Malla.

Akram bowled beautifully, and Aarif Sheikh could only manage to take a single on the second-last ball, with Nepal eventually requiring three runs of the last delivery.

Watch Top End T20 Series Live on ARY ZAP

Under pressure, well-set batter, Dipendra Singh Airee, attempted an unconventional reverse shot, which went straight to the fielder, resulting in his run out and emphatic win for Pakistan Shaheens.

After losing an early wicket, Aasif Sheikh and captain Rohit Paudel paired up to take them over the 50-run mark.

Sheikh departed after playing a measured knock off 27 runs from 30 balls. As a result, Nepal were 58-2 in 11.4 overs. However, Shaheens made a comeback with Gulsan Jha (3) run out in the very next over.

With Nepal losing quick wickets, Rohit Paudel remained firm and top-scored with 52 from 44 balls. His innings featured six boundaries and a four.

Despite the skipper’s removal, Nepal cruised in the chase until the 19th over with Dipendra Singh Airee keeping them in the hunt. Airee played a valiant knock off 41 from 21 balls, striking two fours and a maximum.

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For Pakistan Shaheens, Mohammad Wasim and Faisal Akram were the standout bowlers, picking up two wickets in their four overs.

Earlier, skipper of Pakistan Shaheens, Muhammad Irfan Khan, powered his team to a fighting total against Nepal with his 42 off 26 balls. Irfan’s knock included three fours and a six.

After deciding to bat first, Pakistan Shaheens mustered 144-9 in their allocated 20 overs.

Pakistan Shaheens could not capitalize on the decision as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

At one stage, the Shaheens were reeling at 74-7 in 12.3 overs until Muhammad Irfan and Mohammad Wasim’s partnership lifted them out of trouble.

Wasim made 23 from 22 balls with the aid of two fours and a maximum.

For Nepal, Sompal Kami took three wickets while Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav supported him well with two wickets each.

READ: BCCI considering THIS star batter to replace Rohit Sharma as ODI captain

Shan Masood moves to Karachi Kings, Faisal Akram joins Multan Sultans

Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood has joined Karachi Kings for Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9 in a swap deal with left-arm wrist spinner Faisal Akram, who will play for Multan Sultans in the tournament.

The trade deal saw Multan Sultans getting Faisal Akram as well as Karachi Kings’ first-round pick in the diamond category and the silver category.

https://twitter.com/thePSLt20/status/1732731713829355889

Previously, Karachi Kings also traded their skipper Imad Wasim to Islamabad United for Hasan Ali and received Islamabad United’s first-round silver pick in exchange for their second silver pick.

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Quetta Gladiators also traded their all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed for Multan Sultans’ batter Rilee Rossouw, who represented Gladiators from 2017-2019.

The trade deal also saw Sultans getting the first pick in the platinum category round one while Gladiators will get the first pick in the silver round one.

The process of local player category renewals for the upcoming ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was completed on 10 November with categories upgraded for nine players.

The PSL Player Draft for the ninth season will take place at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on 13 December 2023.

READ: Prime Minister’s XI trail by 242 runs after Shan Masood’s double ton

Faisal Akram’s takes five again as Pakistan Shaheens beat NT Strike

Another five-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Faisal Akram helped Pakistan Shaheens beat Northern Territory (NT) Strike by 84 runs at DXC Arena on Wednesday evening.

This was Shaheens’ last match on Australian soil before they return home.

Pakistan Shaheens, before the two 50-over matches, appeared in six-team Top End Series, where they lost to NT Strike in the final at DXC Arena on Sunday.

Chasing 233 to win, NT Strike lost their opening batters for just seven runs on the board before Jason Sangha (34, 37b, 3x4s) and Coby Edmonstone (65, 98b, 6x4s, 1×6) added 79 runs for the third wicket.

Param Uppal (24, 27b, 3x4s) was the other notable contributor with the bat. After the departure of Uppal, the hosts lost seven wickets for just 21 runs.

Faisal Akram, who bagged five for 17 runs in the match against Papua New Guinea on Tuesday afternoon, bagged five wickets for 37 from 10 overs, which included 39 dot balls.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Shaheens’ opening pair of Azan Awais (36, 38b, 2x4s) and Basit Ali (33, 35b, 5x4s) knitted a 53-run partnership for the opening wicket.

After the departure of the pair with 87 runs on the board, Pakistan Shaheens were in a spot of bother as they lost five wickets for 73 runs.

That the Pakistan Shaheens managed to score 232 from 160 for seven was largely due to a 44-run partnership between Ahmed Khan (39, 61b, 2x4s, 1×6) and Ali Asfand (42 not out, 42b, 5x4s) for the eighth wicket.

Pakistan Shaheens were all out for 232 in 47.3 overs.

For NT Strike, Charlie Smith took four wickets for 31, while Jack Wood and Tom Menzies grabbed two wickets each.

This was Pakistan Shaheens’ first win over NT Strike, after they failed to overpower the hosts on two occasions in the recently concluded Top End T20 Series.

READ: Shubman Gill moves closer to Fakhar, Imam in ICC ODI Batting Rankings

‘It was a privilege to play with great players at NHPC’ young spinner Faisal

LAHORE: Pakistan’s junior spinner Faisal Akram praised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s initiative of the Pathway Cricket Programme and termed playing alongside great cricketers ‘A Privilege’.

Faisal, in a video statement released by the PCB, expressed his gratitude on playing alongside the national cricketers in the recently concluded first phase of the PCB Conditioning Camp, termed it a privilege.

“It was a privilege for me to play alongside the great cricketers while I am also hopeful of doing well and representing the country during a prolong career,” Faisal said.

Faisal also heaped praises on the PCB Pathway Cricket Programme while also revealing how he managed to get full support of his family after the announcement of the PCB Pathway Cricket Programme.

“I felt immensely overjoyed to see my name in the list of 100 players selected under the PCB Pathway Cricket Programme. The happiness of my family was also to be seen on this occasion,” Faisal stated.

“The Pathway Cricket Program is a great initiative of the PCB. It will provide financial support to the families of youngsters who dream of becoming cricketers. When I started playing cricket, my family was not in support of me, but now, after the announcement of the Pathway Cricket Program, they are fully supporting me,” he added.

Faisal’s NHPC coach and the legendary spinner Mushtaq Ahmed is also in awe of the young spinner’s abilities as he claimed that the latter has all the potential of becoming a match-winning bowler.

“Faisal Akram is a mystery spinner and I have worked with him in various training camps. He is a very talented and hardworking athlete, we are currently working on his mental and physical strength,” Mushtaq stated.

“Faisal has impressed me a lot. He has all the potential to becoming a complete match-winning bowler. Faisal also dodges senior batters in the net sessions with his bowling skills. He is a polite young man who is working hard,” Mushtaq concluded.

It is worth noting here that Faisal shone with his mysterious bowling in the National Uner-19 Championship; taking 26 wickets in just five matches. The left-handed spinner was also seen dismissing Pakistan’s explosive batter Asif Ali, during the recently concluded first phase of the PCB Conditioning Camp.

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