Tag: shoaib akhtar

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar heavily criticised the decision of Babar Azam’s reappointment as the white-ball captain following the national team’s early exit from the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan, in a first, were knocked out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage after a crucial Group A fixture between the co-host United States of America (USA) and Ireland was abandoned here without a ball bowled.

The Green Shirts had a disastrous start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign as they suffered a shock loss against the USA in the Super Over.

Pakistan then succumbed to a frustrating six-run defeat against arch-rivals India at a jam-packed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 9.

The back-to-back defeats put Pakistan on the verge of an early exit from the tournament.

The former champions then finally got on the winning track when they registered a hard-fought seven-wicket victory over Canada.

Pakistan then edged past Ireland in another stiff challenge to bow out of the T20 World Cup 2024 with a win.

The 2009 champions finished third in Group A standings with four points in four matches.

Questions have been asked about continuing with Babar Azam as the T201 captain after Pakistan’s embarrassing ouster.

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Speaking on national television, Shoaib Akhtar questioned the decision to reinstate Babar Azam as the captain and claimed that the former top-ranked batter is not fit for the role.

“Who made Babar Azam the captain in the first place? Who was the Einstein? I need to know that guy. Does he qualify for this job? Does he even know anything about captaincy? I’ve been saying that Babar Azam is not a captain material,” Akhtar said.

Akhtar then claimed that Babar needs to finish games for Pakistan in order to retain his place in the T20I and ODI sides.

“What’s going to happen to Babar now? He is now going to come down at number 4. He has to finish the games. He has to win the games, if he doesn’t, he won’t be able to keep his place in T20I. I am telling you right now. He won’t be able to find his place in ODIs if he can’t finish,” stated Akhtar.

“The finisher Babar has to come out again. That’s when the character comes out. He needs to get in that kind of a position. I am bluntly telling this to Babar, you need to remain a superstar. Get to know how to finish games,” he concluded.

READ: Vancouver Knights sign Babar Azam, Amir, Rizwan for GT20 2024

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday said the team’s current pace attack, featuring Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah reminds him of the era of the great pair of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Pakistan’s pace trio is one of the world’s best fast-bowling attacks, and they proved it in the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

The trio has taken 23 wickets between them in the first three matches of the Asia Cup co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a precursor to next month’s one-day international World Cup in India.

Left-arm pacer Shaheen rattled the Indian top order last week in a group match that was abandoned due to rain after just one innings and remains a threat ahead of a key Super Four clash between the arch-rivals on Sunday.

“These youngsters are very, very talented and I am happy that Pakistan is able to produce such fast bowlers over and over again,” Shoaib Akhtar said in an online chat organised by Star Sports.

“This pace battery reminds me of the old days… reminds me of that era of two Ws (Waqar and Wasim). They are very confident and have the mindset of taking wickets.”

Wasim and Waqar took over 900 ODI wickets between them, striking fear into the hearts of opposing batsmen with their lightning-fast reverse swing deliveries.

Shaheen leads the charge with new-ball partner Naseem, but it is first-change Rauf who tops the Asia Cup bowling chart with nine wickets.

Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh in the opening match of the Super Fours in Lahore on Wednesday with Rauf returning 4-19 from his six overs.

“I would say Shaheen Shah Afridi is on top of his career right now. Haris Rauf has a wicket-taking mindset like Shaheen,” said Shoaib Akhtar, who later joined Pakistan’s pace attack alongside Wasim and Waqar.

“I would just advise Naseem to bowl more wicket-taking deliveries than be a stock bowler. He seams the ball more than Shaheen and can penetrate more.”

Pakistan has had a history of producing great fast bowlers including Fazal Mahmood, Sarfraz Nawaz and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan.

Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan remain favourites to win the Asia Cup and the World Cup starting October 5 and predicted Babar Azam’s team will topple India in both tournaments.

READ: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan team reaches Colombo

KARACHI: Kamran Akmal called Shoaib Akhtar’s controversial remarks about star Pakistan batter Babar Azam and the team, a stunt to stay in the headlines.

Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar stirred a controversy when he made a below-the-belt attack on Pakistan captain Babar and company regarding their presentation and oratory skills in a recent interview given to a private news channel.

“You can see there’s no character in the team, nor do they know how to talk. How awkward it looks when they come to the presentation.” Akhtar had said.

“How difficult is it to learn and speak English?” he taunted.

“Babar is the biggest brand in Pakistan but why he hasn’t become the biggest brand of Pakistan? Because he cannot speak.”

The vexing remarks passed by Akhar, nicknamed Rawalpindi Express, annoyed the cricket fans and former cricketers alike.

Speaking at the ARY News program Har Lambha Pujosh on Tuesday, former wicket-keeper batter Kamran gave a befitting response to his ex-teammate, saying it is unfair of Akhtar to talk about Babar’s presentation since he is doing more advertisements than the former had done in his career.

“I think Shoaib was not getting enough time on screen, that’s why he has said such a thing to keep himself in the headlines,” Akmal said.

“Babar is our captain. He is the top-ranked batter in the world.”

“He is improving day by day as far as his speaking and media handling is concerned. In fact, the number of ads he is doing right now is no match to what Shoaib Akhtar does”

“His (Babar’s) main job is to play cricket and he is remarkable in it. It’s not reasonable to criticize him for the other things” he concluded.

READ: Dominant England deny Pakistan consolation win in Women’s T20 WC

KARACHI: Renowned Pakistan singer and actor Umair Jaswal on Thursday announced that he will no longer be part of legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar’s biopic Rawalpindi Express – running against the odds.

Jaswal, who came up with a major announcement last year in November that he will be playing the role of legendary pacer Akhtar in the latter’s biopic, has now stepped away from the anticipated project citing creative and personal reasons.

“Due to creative and personal reasons, I have decided to step away from the Shoaib Akhtar biopic project RAWALPINDI EXPRESS,” Jaswal wrote on his Instagram handle.

“I will no longer be associated with any media or news related to this project. Wishing everyone involved all the best,” he added.

 

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A post shared by Umair Jaswal (@umairjaswalofficial)

It is apropos to mention Akhtar’s upcoming biopic is coined to be the first foreign project about a Pakistan sportsman and will be released on 16 November 2023.

Akhtar is considered among the top bowlers to have represented Pakistan, the right-arm speedster took 444 international in 224 matches.

He also made a world record for bowling the fastest delivery in the history of international cricket when he bowled a thunderbolt at 161.3 kph during the Cricket World Cup 2023.

READ: Babar nominated for ICC Player of the month for December 2022

KARACHI: Renowned Pakistan singer and actor Umair Jaswal on Wednesday announced that he will be portraying the role of the legendary pacer, Shoaib Akhtar, in the latter’s biopic Rawalpindi Express – running against the odds.

Akhtar, who is also known as ‘Rawalpindi Express’ for his sheering pace and lightning-quick deliveries, announced his biopic in July this year.

Akhtar’s biopic will be the first international film about a Pakistani sports figure, and it will be released on November 16, 2023.

In the latest development, however, renowned singer and actor Jaswal came up with an announcement and revealed that he will be playing the pacer’s role in the biopic.

“Bismillah! Super excited to announce & share this with all of you. I’m honoured to play the living legend, Mr. Shoaib Akthar on the big screen in RAWALPINDI EXPRESS,” Jaswal stated on social media platforms.

“With Allah’s blessings may we succeed in our endeavours. We look forward to bringing to you a first-of-its-kind biopic film worthy of worldwide recognition,” he added.

BISMILLAH
Super excited to announce this with all of you 😊 honored to play the living legend, Mr. Shoaib Akthar on the big screen in RAWALPINDI EXPRESS
With Allah’s blessings may we succeed in our endeavours. Aameen . #rawalpindiexpress #umairjaswal #qfilms @shoaib100mph pic.twitter.com/3YruNBxJPX

— Umair Jaswal (@umairjaswal) November 16, 2022

Meanwhile, Akhtar, while announcing the launch of his biopic in July, regarding his journey, while sharing glimpses.

“Beginning of this beautiful journey. Announcing the launch of my story, my life, my Biopic. ‘RAWALPINDI EXPRESS – Running against the odds’,” Akhtar wrote on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1551259542205435904

“You’re in for a ride you’ve never taken before. [The first] foreign film about a Pakistani Sportsman. Controversially yours, Shoaib Akhtar,” he added.

It is apropos to mention here that Akhtar represented Pakistan in 46 Tests, 163 ODIs, and 15 T20Is. He took 444 wickets including 16 five-wicket hauls.

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MANCHESTER: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar asserted that Pakistan would crash out in the group stage of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 if they opted to go with the same middle-order.

Akhtar, while talking to this reporter here on Tuesday, lambasted the selection criteria of the national men’s cricket team and also predicted their future in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.

“With our current selection merit and this middle-order. I am foreseeing Pakistan crashing out of the World Cup in the early phase,” said Akhtar.

The right-arm pacer then went on to reveal his plans if he gets an opportunity of becoming the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and shared that only those players with impressive performances will come forward.

“If I become the PCB chairman, only the players who show impressive performance will come forward.

“PCB needs to be run like a corporation and we can make a lot of money by doing that.”

READ: Pakistan to face India on Feb 12 in Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 

KARACHI: Pakistan legendary speedster Shoaib Akhtar announced the launch of his biopic ‘Rawalpindi Express – running against the odds’ on Monday.

Akhtar, casually known as ‘Rawalpindi Express’ for his sheering pace and lightning-quick deliveries, forced many batters to fear while taking on him.

The right-arm pacer also holds one of the most iconic records in the history of world cricket as he bowled the fastest delivery in international cricket almost 19 years ago.

Akhtar’s biopic will be the first international film about a Pakistani sports figure, and it will be released on November 16, 2023.

Taking to Twitter, the former speedster made the announcement of the short movie regarding his journey, while sharing the glimpses.

“Beginning of this beautiful journey. Announcing the launch of my story, my life, my Biopic. “RAWALPINDI EXPRESS – Running against the odds”,” Akhtar wrote on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1551259542205435904

“You’re in for a ride you’ve never taken before. [The first] foreign film about a Pakistani Sportsman. Controversially yours, Shoaib Akhtar,” he added.

It is apropos to mention here that Akhtar represented Pakistan in 46 Tests, 163 ODIs, and 15 T20Is. He took 444 wickets including 16 five-wicket hauls.

READ: Fawad Alam completes thousand runs in Test cricket

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar shared on his Twitter that he will be travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform the ‘Honorary Hajj’ and also be addressing the Hajj Conference.

Taking to Twitter, Akhtar thanked the Saudi Arabia embassy in Pakistan for providing him with the honourable achievement.

“Alhamdolillah! going for honorary Hajj as [the] state guest of Saudi Arabia. I will also be addressing the Hajj Conference attended by leaders of the Muslim world in Makkah,” Shoaib shared.

https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1543192420262653956

It is pertinent to mention here that Shoaib represented Pakistan in 224 international matches and claimed 444 wickets in his prolonged 14 years career. He also holds the record of bowling the fastest delivery (161.3 kph) in international cricket.

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KARACHI: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar heaped praises on his counterpart Mohammad Asif by terming the latter as a magician.

In an interview, with an Indian website Hindustan Times, Akhtar recalled the nail-biting Test series between the two arch-rivals Pakistan and India and revealed how Asif made him look like an ordinary bowler.

“The way Asif trapped the Indian team…I have never seen a magician like him. He made me look like a very ordinary fast bowler. I remember him bowling in the 2006 Test match against India. He bowled an inswinger to Laxman and he was bowled out. I told him, ‘What a fluke! It does happen once or twice’. He replied saying, ‘I will dismiss him in the exact same manner in the next innings’. It did not swing that much in that delivery, but it was exactly the same, it seamed as well and Laxman was gone,” Akhtar told Hindustan times.

Akhtar further carried his praise for Asif and claimed the latter’s calibre was the same as that of the legendary pacer Wasim Akram.

KARACHI: Former Pakistani speedster and the world record holder for bowling the fastest delivery in international cricket Shoaib Akhtar, revealed that he used to pull trucks to practice.

In an interview, with an Indian website Sportskeeda, the former Pakistani pacer opened on how he managed to bowl the fastest delivery, admitting that it was not easy or a natural process, while also revealing how he practised to achieve the feat.

“When you touch 155 kph as a bowler, remember that you have another 5 kph inside you. However, adding that extra pace to your bowling requires specific training. Before I broke the 100 miles record, I was bowling at speeds of 157-158 kph but I was not able to reach 160. I was a bit baffled over the same, wondering why it was not happening,” Shoaib was quoted saying.

“I began by running with tires but soon realized that they are light. Next, I started pulling small vehicles with my shoulders. There is less public in Islamabad, so I used to pull vehicles at night. I used to match its speed with the pace of my run-up. I realized that the vehicle is also small, so I started pulling a truck. I used to pull a truck for 4-5 miles,” the statement added.

Shoaib further revealed that he also practised bowling as quick as 150 kph on 26-yard wickets instead of the standard 22-yard long pitch.

“When I bowled on 26-yard strips, my speed came down to 142-143 kph. But my aim remained to touch 150 kph on 26-yard surfaces. My muscles were in great shape back then and I started bowling with old, worn-out balls. I was aiming to hit the wickets with those old balls,” he shared.

“I gradually moved back to bowling with comparatively newer balls. I was playing with the mechanics of the body. This procedure went on for two months and I started hitting 150 kph,” he added.

The right-arm pacer also claimed that he had told his 2003 World Cup teammates Saqlain Mushtaq and Azhar Mehmood that he was going to break the 100 miles barrier.

“When I bowled in the nets during the 2003 World Cup, batters were telling me – ‘you’ll kill us, you are bowling so quick. What have you done to increase your speed so much?’ I told them that I have trained very hard because I want to break the 100-miles barrier,” Shoaib revealed.

“I told my teammates Saqlain (Mushtaq) and Azhar (Mahmood) that I will break the record in the World Cup,” he maintained.

“After I touched 161.3 kph, I thought I could bowl even quicker. But then I started getting cracks in my body – in my back, in my hamstring. I thought I would break down and get ruled out of the World Cup, so I left it at that,” he concluded.

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