Category: Sports

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir)

AAA Associates, in its continuous efforts to promote underfunded sports activities and athletes, announced the sponsorship of Tokyo Paralympic 2020’s Gold Medallist Haider Ali. Haider Ali has brought great honour to Pakistan by winning Gold Medal in Tokyo Paralympics in Discus Throw on 3rd September 2021, becoming the first gold medallist for Pakistan at the Paralympics ever. His previous accolades include winning Pakistan’s first ever silver at Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China in 2008. He has competed at the Paralympics on four occasions in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 and has the unique honour of winning country’s first ever Paralympic gold, silver and bronze medals. He is also the only Pakistani to have won a medal in Paralympic history. AAA Associates will provide the entire funding required by Haider Ali for his continuous training and participation in Athletic events worldwide.

Addressing the ceremony, AAA Associates Chairman Sheikh Fawad Bashir lauded Haider Ali for his exemplary performance by saying, “despite the lack of facilities and resources, the way Haider Ali has excelled, is heroic and an inspiration for all of us. It is a proud moment for me to have Haider Ali as a brand ambassador of AAA Associates”.

MD AAA Associates Shahzad Kiani also applauded Haider Ali’s outstanding feats and welcomed him as a brand ambassador of the company. Citing the remarkable performance, he said, “It is one of our manifestos to promote such athletes and sports. AAA Associates believe in dedication and Haider Ali is a true face of devotion and motivation.”

Haider Ali also acknowledged AAA Associates’ efforts of endorsing sports, “ I feel delighted to be a part of AAA Associates and under their patronage, I will be more focused on my sports without worrying for funds.”

A graceful ceremony in this regard was held at AAA Associates Head Office in Phase 7, Bahria Town, Rawalpindi.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)

Pakistan Cricket Board has finalized arrangements with Pakistan’s leading online marketplace, Daraz, forexclusivelive streaming rights for the 2021-22 home season in the Pakistan region.

The upcoming cricket season is set to be one of the busiest home seasons in Pakistan’s cricketing history with white-ball series tours by New Zealand, England (men’s and women’s) and West Indies followed by a full tour by Australia.

Daraz will have exclusive live streaming rights for the entire bilateral international cricket season which commences with the first ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Friday, 17 September.

As part of the partnership, Daraz users will get a chance to see the live stream free of cost on the platform’s recently launched “DarazLive” – live streaming feature completely free of ads.

Daraz believes in providing its customers with added value by continuous tech-backed innovation and living up to that belief, the brand focuses majorly on the phenomena of In-App shoppertainment that allows users to get a complete entertainment experience from the comfort of their homes.

PCB CEO Wasim Khansaid, “I am excited to welcome Daraz on board as our exclusive live streaming partner for the Pakistan region. Cricket is Pakistan’s biggest passion point and we are keen to make the game more accessible for our fans. Our Commercial Team has focused on digital growth and this live streaming partnership is a great achievement for us as an organisation.

“I am confident that our partnership with Daraz will grow bigger and better in line with our strategic vision to take a futuristic approach for value-addition and addressing changing behaviors and needs of our fans, especially the youth.”

Chief Marketing Officer at Daraz, Ammar Hassan shared his excitement by saying, “We are extremely proud to partner with PCB for exclusive digital broadcasting rights for Pakistan cricket home series till March 2022. Daraz users will get a chance to see the live digital broadcast free of cost and free of ads while enjoying some great shopping deals during the matches. Live commerce is the next big thing and we want to bring the same trend in Pakistan.”

With this partnership, both PCB and Daraz hope to redefine the cricket and entertainment landscape of Pakistan and enable users to have easy access to the most loved sport of the country.

 

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Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram Tuesday rejected rumours he was vying for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman post, adding that he was “never interested in it”.  Responding to a report by the Indian publication Times of India, Wasim Akram rubbished reports he was trying to land the job.

“Please stop spreading such fake news. Get your sources right. TOI is one of India’s top and credible newspapers and such baseless news can only hurt that image,” he tweeted.

“PCB chairman’s post is a specialised job and I was never interested in it. Thank God, I am content where I am in my life,” he added.

In a subsequent tweet, Wasim Akram congratulated commentator Ramiz Raja for his nomination to the PCB board of governors, expressing the confidence that Raja can bring positivity to Pakistan cricket as “he has the vision and experience to achieve that”.

“Pakistan cricket needs a big lift and my support is with you,” tweeted the former captain.

The Times of India report which Wasim refuted said that the former left-arm fast bowler had indicated his interest in the post, as per a PCB insider.

However, the report said PM Imran Khan had gone ahead with the decision to appoint Ramiz Raja to the PCB chairman post instead as “he had no baggage to carry with him”.

But this time Wasim had shown interest but eventually the premier settled upon Ramiz who has never come under the shadow of match-fixing allegations as a player or captain,” the report stated, citing the source.

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Lahore (NUT-DesK)

Pakistan captain Babar Azam shared his new haircut on social media, and fans of the national team’s skipper can’t get enough of it. Returning after a successful tour of the West Indies, Babar Azam shared a picture of his new hairstyle with the caption:

“Feeling better already with the fresher and new look!” he tweeted.

Here’s how fans reacted to it:

Twitter handle @gayomarlic shared a popular meme from hit TV show “The Office” to express her love for the batsman.

The hairstyle was, apparently, enough to melt Ahmad.

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Prime Minister Imran Khan,  nominated Ramiz Raja and Asad Ali Khan as members of the cricket authority’s board of governors on Friday

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, the members have been appointed for a three-year tenure in terms of Paragraph 12(5) of the Constitution of the Pakistan Cricket Board, 2019.

Earlier, PM Imran Khan had already appointed Justice Azmat Saeed as election commissioner to oversee the PCB chairman’s election.

This is Asad Ali Khan’s second appointment to the board of governors. Ehsan Mani and Khan, the patron\s previous two nominees, have completed their three-year terms on the board.

According to the PCB constitution, the chairman of the board is elected by the board of governors from within the members of the board of governors.

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Star of Pakistani team during West Indies tour, Shaheen Shah Afridi has become the fast bowler with the most wickets in the Test format in 2021 so far — after his 18-wicket haul during the Test series against West Indies in Jamaica.

The fast bowler is followed by Pakistan’s Hasan Ali (32), England’s James Anderson (29), West Indies’ Kemar Roach (27), and South Africa’s Anrich Nortje (25). Shaheen Afridi has also attained a career-best ICC Test ranking after his strong performance in the recently concluded series against West Indies.

Shaheen helped trigger the West Indies’ batting collapse in both innings during the second Test match, grabbing 10 wickets in the process. The left-arm pacer has managed to gain 10 slots to reach no 8 on the MRF ICC Test bowler’s rankings. Before the Test began, Shaheen was on number 18 in the bowler’s rankings.

Moreover, he is the first Pakistani fast bowler since May 2000 to claim a 10-wicket match figure in West Indies. The last Pakistani fast bowler to do so was Wasim Akram when he took 11/110 at St. John’s.

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed career best figures as the tourists dominated with bat and ball on the fourth day of the second and final test against West Indies at Sabina Park  to put themselves on course to square the series.

Shaheen took 6-51 as the visitors bowled West Indies out for 150 shortly after lunch to ensure a 152-run first innings lead and then sped to 176-6 before declaring their second innings, to set the home side a target of 329 to win the test.

 

West Indies were 49-1 at the close in a test that has already lost a full day to bad weather yet still looks likely to produce a result. Pakistan still need nine wickets while the home side require 280 runs in what would be a record-breaking run chase at the Jamaican venue.

Pakistan, beaten by one wicket in the first test, applied an aggressive approach throughout the day, as West Indies resumed on their overnight score of 39-3, with Shaheen well supported by Mohammad Abbas, who took 3-44. Nkrumah Bonner, who was 18 not out overnight, top scored for the home team with 37.

Pakistan then wasted no time looking to set their hosts an imposing target, changing their batting order to take on the air of a limited overs lineup. Abid Ali came out swinging and helped the tourists race to 70-1 in the 10th over before he was caught in the gully off Alzarri Joseph for 29.

Fellow opener Imran Butt scored 37 off 44 balls and captain Babar Azam chimed in with a quick 33 runs, declaring when he holed out to long-on. Pakistan’s 176 second innings runs came off only 27.2 overs and with a further 138 overs left in the test, they have given themselves ample time to bowl out West Indies and square the series.

Shaheen continued his heroics near the end of the day’s play with a direct throw that ran out Kieran Powell for 23 as the visitors lost the first wicket of their second innings. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite (17 not out) and nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph, fulfilling the role for a second successive day, will resume on Tuesday.

Lahore (Nut-DESK)

Fawad Alam registered his fifth century while Shaheen Shah bagged early scalps to put Pakistan on top at stumps on day three of the rain-affected second Test of the two-match series against the West Indies on Sunday.

The hosts were teetering at 39/3 after Pakistan declared their first innings on 302 for nine with Fawad staying unbeaten on 124.

The 35-year-old Fawad returned to the crease to complete his fifth Test century, becoming the quickest Asian to score the aforementioned centuries. He reached to landmark in just 22 innings, breaking India’s Cheteshwar Pujara (24 innings) record.

When play did begin before lunch with Pakistan at 212 for four, only eight balls were bowled before the action was again halted as Jason Holder, who was operating from that troublesome southern end, and other West Indies bowlers highlighted their continuing concerns about the soft conditions underfoot.

When play finally commenced in the heat of the afternoon, Pakistan’s overnight pair of Mohammad Rizwan and Faheem Ashraf struggled to get going and the arrival of Jayden Seales and the second new ball started a clatter of wickets.

Seales trapped Faheem leg-before for 26. Then Holder grabbed two in two balls, earning an LBW verdict against Rizwan (31) before new man Nauman Ali edged a lifting delivery for wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva to take a good catch high to his left.

Fawad remained not out on 124 off 213 balls while skipper Babar Azam was the other notable run-getter, scoring 75 on Day one. Roach and Seales took three wickets each for hosts while Holder bagged two. Pakistan were provided early breakthroughs by spearhead Shaheen as he removed openers Kieran Powell and skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for just nine.

Powell (5) was trapped in front while Brathwaite (4) received a peach of a delivery, resulting in stumps flying behind. Close to the stumps, Faheem clean bowled Rostan Chase (10). Nkrumah Bonner (18*) and night watchman Alzari Jospeh (0) batted till the stumps with West Indies trailing by 263 runs.