Tag: Waqar Younis

Legendary Pakistan cricketers Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi lashed out at the national team following their upset defeat against the United States of America (USA) in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan endured a five-run defeat against the co-hosts in the Super Over as they failed to chase down the 19-run target.

Senior pacer Mohammad Amir bowled the Super Over for Pakistan and conceded 18 runs. In response, the Green Shirts only managed 13/1.

Reacting to the defeat on his YouTube channel, former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq stated the team is heading towards a “downfall”.

“Babar Azam and company should sit down and think about the kind of cricket they are playing. But, looking at our cricket and selection, I think our cricket is headed towards downfall,” the former right-hander said.

Legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi, on the other hand, raised questions over the team’s strategies in crucial situations.

“They made a huge mistake by opting for Iftikhar instead of Fakhar to play the first ball of the super over. The left-arm fast bowler would have suited Fakhar because of the angle of the bowling. I don’t know who told Iftikhar to face the left-armer,” Afridi said on his YouTube channel.

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Afridi also questioned Mohammad Amir’s performance in the Super Over.

“Mohammad Amir bowled really well during the match and I thought that they will go with in the super over as well. But he conceded a lot of extras in the super over which also didn’t help Pakistan’s cause,” stated Afridi.

“He is experienced and knows how to bowl yorkers. The ball was reversing as well which is why I think he shouldn’t have given away so many runs,” he added.

On the other hand, legendary pacer Waqar Younis termed the USA’s victory over Pakistan historic and asserted that the national team looked “helpless”.

“USA grounded Pakistan in their opening game. History’s been registered. Pakistan looked exhausted and helpless in the field. Congrats USA for a thumping victory,” Waqar tweeted.

READ: Babar Azam highlights shortcomings after Pakistan’s shock loss against USA

Pakistan legend Waqar Younis on Monday advised misfiring strike bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to learn from India seamer Jasprit Bumrah if he wants to make an impact at the ICC World Cup 2023.

Shaheen Afridi is struggling with his pace and fitness and has been unimpressive in all three games at the ICC World Cup 2023 where his four wickets have come at a cost of 139 runs.

“I don’t know if there is a problem with his fitness,” Waqar, who is in India as a commentator, told AFP.

“The missing link in his bowling is discipline and he is over trying to get wickets.

“When you do the same thing again and again, like Shaheen is bowling to get his yorker going, then batsmen know that and they are ready for it.”

Waqar Younis suggested Shaheen Afridi should follow the example set by Bumrah who he described as a “top bowler.”

The Indian spearhead is the joint top wicket-taker in the ICC World Cup 2023 with eight wickets at just 11.52.

New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner and fast bowler Matt Henry also have eight victims each.

India thumped Pakistan by seven wickets in Ahmedabad on Saturday, with Shaheen unable to help Pakistan defend a meagre 192-run target.

In contrast, Bumrah dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan with two well-executed deliveries to finish with 2-19 in seven overs.

“Bumrah is creating pressure and his line is top of the off stump. He bowled so well against Pakistan and created pressure to get wickets,” said Waqar.

Shaheen, 23, has been leading Pakistan’s new-ball attack since taking 16 wickets in five World Cup games in the United Kingdom four years ago.

He has been likened to former great Wasim Akram who with 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets was regarded as one of the best left-arm pacers to have played cricket.

But former India allrounder Ravi Shastri blasted the comparison during the Pakistan-India match, saying: “Shaheen is no Wasim Akram”, claiming that the Pakistan star is “not special.”

Waqar believes that the absence of regular new-ball partner Naseem Shah — ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023 with a shoulder injury — may have had a detrimental effect on Shaheen’s performances so far.

“Naseem is a good bowler and doesn’t give many runs away,” said Waqar of the 20-year-old.

“When Naseem creates pressure, batsmen take chances with other bowlers and they get wickets.”

Waqar Younis said Pakistan’s bowling was “lacking discipline” at the World Cup where three games have yielded two wins and one loss.

“I don’t think it’s because of missing just one bowler, but it’s because they are not keeping it simple.”

Pakistan, who beat the Netherlands and Sri Lanka before losing to India, next face Australia in Bengaluru on Friday.

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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

KARACHI: Legendary pacer and former coach Waqar Younis has opened up on the speculations surrounding the internet regarding him taking the role of the bowling coach of the Pakistan National Men’s Cricket Team.

Earlier, social media was ablaze with speculations about Younis being considered for the position of bowling coach for the Pakistan team.

Meanwhile, Younis took to Twitter to put those speculations to rest by sharing that he was not approached for the role by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and neither had an intention of taking the position.

“Lots of speculation around me taking on the bowling coach [role] of Pakistan team,” wrote Younis.

“Let me be very clear I have not approached and I have no intentions of taking that job,” he added.

Lots of speculation around me taking on the bowling coach roll of Pakistan🇵🇰 team. Let me be very clear I have not approached and I have no intentions of taking taking that job #ThankYou

— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) January 17, 2023

 

It is pertinent to mention that Younis’ last stint as the national team’s bowling coach ended in 2021 when he stepped down from the role before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He was appointed in September 2019 on a three-year deal but chose to relinquish his position a year prior.

Furthermore, Younis has also served as the national team’s head coach twice between 2010-2011 and 2014-2016.

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KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan pacers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis will represent the country in the commentary panel of the forthcoming Asia Cup 2022.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Friday unveiled the star-studded commentary panel for the upcoming 15th edition of the Asia Cup.

The panel comprises five commentators from India, two from Pakistan, and a commentator each from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.

The list of commentators for the event includes Wasim (Pakistan), Waqar (Pakistan), Ravi Shastri (India), Irfan Pathan (India), Gautam Gambhir (India), Russel Arnold (Sri Lanka), Deep Dasgupta (India), Scott Styris (New Zealand), Sanjay Manjrekar (India), Athar Ali Khan (Bangladesh).

The action-filled tournament will embark on August 27 in United Arab Emirates as the hosts Sri Lanka take on Afghanistan in the curtain-raiser.

Arch-rivals Pakistan and India will lock horns in an adrenaline-rush clash a day later on August 28.

It is apropos to mention here Sri Lanka Cricket will be hosting the tournament in UAE following the ongoing political crisis and economic instability in the country.

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LAHORE: Pakistan’s Test cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has lambasted former head coach Waqar Younis for keeping his career at bay and demanded the report be made public which has closed the doors of international cricket for him.

Shehzad blamed Waqar, who had reported the conduct of the opening batter in 2016, for driving his career into the corner.

“My career was cornered by Waqar Younis’s report against me,” he said in an interview.”I made numerous attempts to learn about the report but to no avail,” he added.

Shehzad demanded the report and its content be disclosed in order to rectify his own mistakes.

“I want the report to be made public on the basis of which I have been kept out of the team” he asserted. ‘”Whatever is in the report needs to be explained, because I have suffered a lot because of that. If I’ve done anything wrong, let me know, let me be punished, but don’t put my career at stake” he added.

The 30-year-old batter also expressed his discomfort over not being part of the PCB conditioning camp for players’ training held at the National High-Performance Centre (NHPC).

“I don’t know why I was not being called for the conditioning camp. I also wanted to join the camp and receive quality training,” he maintained.

Shehzad last represented Pakistan in 2019 during the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, in which Ahmed was dropped after the first two matches and was unable to find a spot in the Playing XI in the final match.

Ahmed questioned his sudden drop from the team and pleaded that he was not given a full chance during the series.

” I was not given a full chance in the last series against Sri Lanka and kept out of the team in the middle,” he concluded.

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SYDNEY: The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) hosted the first-ever Eif-ul-Fitr celebration dinner on Wednesday, former Pakistan and Australian pacers Waqar Younis and Brett Lee also participated.

Following the footsteps of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the SCG hosted the Eid celebrations to portray solidarity with the Muslim community residing in the region.

The glittering ceremony was attended by the Chief Executive Officer of CA Nick Hockley, the chairman of Sydney Cricket Neil Maxwell and other prominent personnel of the cricketing governing bodies.

The entrancing Azan then echoed the SCG, and the attendants later offered prayers. The guests were also served traditional continental cuisine at the dazzling celebration.

Proud to have hosted the first-ever Eid-ul-Fitr dinner at @scg, featuring sporting greats @waqyounis99, @BrettLee_58 & @SonnyBWilliams. The first its kind at any cricket venue, special occasion. Many thanks to High Commissioner of Pakistan @Zhchaudhri & @HockleyNick (CEO CA) too. pic.twitter.com/v17uhASgk9

— kamil khan (@13kamilkhan) May 18, 2022

 

Pakistan High Commissioner in Australia H.E. Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri also addressed the guests and said, “It’s an absolute pleasure to be here with the legendary cricketers Waqar Younis and Brett Lee.”

READ: Pakistan Hockey Team leaves for Indonesia to participate in Asia Cup

SYDNEY: The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will hold the first-ever Eif-ul-Fitr celebration dinner on Monday, with Pakistan and Australian pacers Waqar Younis and Brett Lee set to take part.

In an attempt to promote diversity within the sport, the Sydney Cricket has taken the initiative to host the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations at the SCG.

Apart from Pak-Australia pacers Waqar and Lee, the Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Australia (CA), Nick Hockley are also among the special guests.

The host of the event Kamil Khan, took to Twitter and shared his excitement about hosting the event and termed it as ‘a very positive step’.

“An absolute privilege to host the first-ever Eid ul Fitr celebration dinner at the SCG. This historic occasion highlights a very positive step of celebrating diversity within cricket,” Kamil wrote.

An absolute privilege to host the first ever Eid ul Fitr celebration dinner at the @scg .This historic occasion highlights a very positive step of celebrating diversity within cricket. #EidMubarak2022 pic.twitter.com/Wakmj2dgX7

— kamil khan (@13kamilkhan) May 11, 2022

 

It is worth mentioning here that the English Cricket Board (ECB) also hosted the first-ever Iftar Dinner at the home of cricket Lord’s last month. England’s white-ball captain Eoin Morgan was among the guests.

READ: ECB hosts first-ever Iftar Event, Home of Cricket echoed with Azan

LAHORE:  The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally inducted former captain and head coach, Waqar Younis, into the Hall of Fame, here on Wednesday.

The legendary right-arm pacer, who took a total of 789 wickets and scored 1,979 runs during his international career from 1989 to 2003, has been inducted into the elite list of PCB’s Hall of Fame.

Pakistan’s great, accompanied by his mother and wife, was awarded a commemorative cap and plaque by the Chief Executive Officer PCB – Faisal Hasnain during the day three lunch break of the ongoing third Test of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy between Pakistan and Australia.

In a PCB released statement, Waqar said that he is feeling proud to be inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame and for becoming a part of an elite list that features legends like Abdul Qadir, Fazal Mahmood, and Hanif Mohammad.

“Representing Pakistan was the fulfilment of my dream and I still get thrilled to remember that moment,” he said.

“It is a moment of pride for me that I am standing in the ranks of great players like Abdul Qadir, Fazal Mehmood Hanif Mohammad, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad and Zaheer Abbas because of this honour. All these players are legends and history is full of everlasting stories of their services to cricket,” he concluded.

The former captain also lauded the PCB for this great initiative of honouring its legends and acknowledging their services to this great sport.

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LAHORE: Former pacer Waqar Younis highly praised Peshawar Zalmi’s pacer Salman Irshad who impressed him with his yorkers bowled against Islamabad United in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7’s first Eliminator on Thursday. 

In a Tweet after watching some deadly yorkers bowled by Irshad, Younis said the youngster reminded him of his old days.

“Another Lahore Qalandars’ product Salman Irshad, Super Spell. Good speed and accuracy. Purani yaadain taza kar deen with those beautiful inswinging Yorkers. Excellent game of Cricket. Big congratulations to Islamabad,” the legendary pacer wrote.

Another @lahoreqalandars product @Salman150kph Super Spell. Good speed and accuracy. Purani yaadain taza kar deen with those beautiful inswinging Yorkers. Excellent game of Cricket 🏏. Big congratulations to @IsbUnited @thePSLt20 #IUvsPZ pic.twitter.com/gssUSua3Jc

— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) February 25, 2022

Salman clean bowled Alex Hales and Asif Ali by bowling impressive yorkers.

HASEEN NAZZARA 😍@Salman150kph gets another breakthrough 👌🏼 #HBLPSL7 l #LevelHai l #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/JF5t9kJwAE

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 24, 2022

KAMAAL YORKER 👌🏼 #HBLPSL7 l #LevelHai l #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/GKRKNNq8a2

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 24, 2022

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