Sports

Ahsan Ramzan wants Pakistanis to treat cueists with respect like cricketers

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

KARACHI: Pakistan’s snooker prodigy, 16-year-old Ahsan Ramzan, wants the government and society to treat cueists as importantly as cricketers in the country.

Ahsan became the third Pakistani to win the IBSF world snooker championship on Friday when he defeated Iran’s Amir Sarkosh in a nerve-testing final. This is overall the country’s 4th IBSF title as Mohammad Asif had won the title twice.

Soon after his victory, Ahsan said that words are not enough to express his feelings after becoming the world champion at the age of 16.

“I can’t ask for more at this age. I can’t express my feelings in words. The feeling of being a world champion is something that only a sportsperson can feel or tell. I am thankful to Almighty Allah for this achievement,” he said.

Ahsan, who was seeded 27th in the championship, had defeated 2nd seed and defending champion Mohammad Asif in the semi-final before beating top seed Iran’s Sarkosh in the final.

The teenager couldn’t control his emotions after winning the semifinal on Thursday night. His photo of getting emotional while being hugged by Asif went viral on social media this morning.

Pakistans Ahsan Ramzan lifts the IBSF World Snooker Championship title. — Photo by author — Pakistan’s Ahsan Ramzan lifts the IBSF World Snooker Championship title. — Photo by author

“It was the moment when I felt that I am heading towards becoming the world champion,” Ahsan mentioned about the semifinal.

The Lahore-based cueist revealed that his journey from the narrow streets of Lahore to the World championship arena wasn’t an easy one.

“I started playing snooker at the age of 6 or 7. It wasn’t an easy sail for me to get out of my home first to the streets of my vicinity, then to main roads of my city and then play provincial and national championship before qualifying to get here,” he said.

“People usually see just one player on a snooker table, but there’s a long struggle and journey behind that one player. I also want to thank everyone who supported and backed me, from my friends to club mates, from the club where I first played to PBSA; it wouldn’t have been possible without their unconditional support,” the youngster said.

Ahsan hoped that his victory would help snooker in Pakistan get its due importance.

“I want the government to support snooker; I want society to support snooker,” he said.

“I wish that when I go back home, I also get the heroic welcome that any other world champion would receive, it is my wish that we — snooker players — also get the same treatment from the society that our cricketers receive from them,” he concluded.

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For the Pakistani team’s T20I against New Zealand, Haseebullah has replaced Azam Khan.

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

In a brief press release, PCB said, “The national selection committee has announced wicketkeeper/batter Haseebullah as the replacement player for Azam Khan, who was sidelined from the T20I series against New Zealand due to a tear in his right calf muscle.”

The information indicates that Haseebullah will become a member of the Pakistan team following the third Twenty20 International, and he will be eligible to be selected for the two remaining Twenty20 Internationals, which are slated to take place in Lahore on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

Earlier in the year, Haseebullah, 21, played in his only Twenty20 international match against New Zealand.

or the unfamiliar, Azam Khan was declared out of the whole series on Saturday after missing the first Twenty20 International because of pain in his right knee and right calf muscle.

According to PCB, “Azam Khan has been advised to undergo a 10-day rest following radiology reports confirming a Grade One tear of his right calf muscle.”

The announcement also stated, “Azam will therefore be unable to take part in the current Twenty20 International series against New Zealand, which concludes in Lahore on April 27.”

Notably, Mark Chapman’s incredible innings helped the visitors to an easy seven-wicket victory in the third Twenty20 International, tying the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand at one.

Pakistan team for the Twenty20 Internationals in New Zealand

Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Babar Azam (c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, and Muhammad Wasim Jr. are the reserve players.

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Rain cancels out Pakistan vs. New Zealand’s opening Twenty20 international

Published

6 days ago

Farwa

As the rain returned, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s expertly timed in-swinger to dismiss Tim Robinson left only a two-ball match going on at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

On-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza shook hands with the players and decided to call off the contest as soon as the rain started up again. Additionally, there was a thirty-minute delay in the planned fixture toss. Then, after winning the coin toss, Michael Bracewell, the captain of New Zealand, decided to bat first.

The players from both sides assembled shortly after for the national anthems, but more rain caused the proceedings to be postponed.

The match appeared likely to be called off before a ball was played due to the intensity of the second spell of rain. But after the rain stopped, the ground crew worked extremely hard, and the game might go into five overs.

The second game, which takes place at the same location on April 20, will pit the two teams against one another.

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Azhar Mahmood suggests that Babar Azam should also take a break.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

Azhar Mahmood stated during a Rawalpindi press conference that, depending on the circumstances, any player, including Babar Azam, might be substituted during the five-match series.

“We shall endeavor to choose the top 11 players available for each game, taking the circumstances into consideration, in accordance with policy,” he continued.

The team’s management hasn’t chosen the starting duo yet, according to Azhar Mahmood in response to a query. “Who will open the inning has not been decided upon yet. Saim-Rizwan, Babar-Saim, or even Fakhar Zaman may start the inning as the opening duo, he continued.

With an emphasis on the team’s strong makeup and tactical preparations for their forthcoming home series against New Zealand, the head coach also conveyed his confidence in his team’s ability.

The coach expressed his faith in the team’s makeup, saying that it consists of a mix of skilled batters, quick bowlers, and adaptable all-around players.

Imad Wasim, an all-rounder, and Mohammad Amir, a fast bowler, were among the returning veterans that Azhar Mahmood believed strengthened the team. His statement went like this: “Their return will definitely strengthen our team.”

In response to a query, he described the New Zealand players as potential stars and dismissed the idea that they were a “B Team” that had been sent to face Pakistan.

Their extensive domestic cricket expertise is shown by the date. No side is weak in T20 cricket, and they are their best player. “They’re playing Pakistan; this is the New Zealand team,” Azhar Mahmood continued.

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, according to the head coach, is fully fit and eligible for the series beginning on April 18.

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

New Zealand squad

Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi, Tom Blundell, Zak Foulkes.

Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series schedule

April 18 — 1st T20I, Rawalpindi

April 20 — 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi

April 21 — 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi

April 25 — 4th T20I, Lahore

April 27 — 5th T20I, Lahore