Sports

Mohammad Yousaf endorses Ramiz Raja’s statement about home pitches

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

After Raja, Yousaf emphasises making most of pitches for home series.
“Every home team makes pitches favourable for their players, so did we,” the batting coach reiterates.
“We had a look on the pitch today during training and it looks good,” says Yousaf regarding Karachi pitch.

KARACHI: Pakistan team’s batting coach Mohammad Yousaf has backed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja’s statement regarding taking “home advantage” while making pitches.

The first Test of the Pakistan vs Australia series in Rawalpindi ended in a draw and was followed by immense criticism due to the batting-friendly behaviour of the pitch throughout the tournament.

After Raja, Yousaf has also emphasised taking “home advantage” while making pitches for the series.

“Every home team makes the pitches favourable for their players, so did we,” the batting coach reiterated while talking to the press via a video link.

“Heavy rollers taken by Australia and the lack of sunlight are also the reasons behind such behaviour of the pitch. But teams prepare pitches at home according to their strength and our batters performed up to our expectations,” he shared.

Imam, Abdullah partnership

Yousaf praised the opening pair of Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique and said that “Pakistan’s Test batting future is bright”.

“Imam and Abdullah were absolutely fantastic with their batting performance,” he said while acknowledging their records.

The former cricketer revealed his coaching mantra and also shared his conversation with Abdullah after which the youngster scored his maiden Test hundred.

“I always believe in listening to the players more than telling them about the game. Abdullah and I had a conversation before the second innings and I tried to listen to him.

“He was keen towards his technique but just needed a breakthrough which he got in his second chance. And now, the results are in front of you,” the legendary cricketer told reporters.

Karachi Test

Yousaf predicted a result-oriented second Test after looking at the pitch during their training session here on Thursday.

“We examined the pitch today during training and it looks good. Karachi pitches have given results in the recent past and I hope the same happens this time around, too,” he said.

“Our preparations are complete and we are really looking forward to continuing our momentum. This Test championship series is important for both the teams and players know it very well,” he concluded.

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Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam get special jerseys from PCB chairman

Published

24 hours ago

Farwa

After the victory over Ireland, Babar Azam surpassed Uganda’s Brian Masaba (44 victories) to become the most successful skipper in T20I history with 45 wins. Since taking over as captain in 2019, Azam has guided Pakistan in 78 games.

In the interim, Shaheen Afridi reached the noteworthy landmark of 300 wickets in international cricket. During the second Twenty20 International, Ireland skipper Paul Stirling became his 300th wicket.

The 24-year-old is also the fifth-youngest bowler to reach the mark.

Since making his international debut in 2018, he has played in 145 matches across all formats for Pakistan. In Test cricket, he claimed 113 wickets, while in ODI and T20I, he claimed 104 and 84 wickets respectively.

Interestingly, in the second Twenty20 International, Pakistan chose to bowl first, and in the fourth over, Afridi dismissed both of Ireland’s openers, bringing the score down to 34-2.

Nonetheless, Ireland reached 193 in their allotted 20 overs thanks to an outstanding 51 runs from 34 balls by Lorcan Tucker, which included five boundaries and two sixes. Gareth Delany also hit a rapid 28 off 10 balls.

Thanks to the half-centuries of Fakkhar Zaman and Muhammad Rizwan, Pakistan was able to successfully chase the 194-run mark with 19 balls remaining.

After early wickets from Babar Azam (0) and Saim Ayub (6), they put up a 140-run partnership in 78 balls to turn the tide of the match in Pakistan’s favour.

With an undefeated 75 off 46 balls that included six boundaries and four sixes, Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan, while Zaman was removed after making 78 runs off of 40 balls.

Another important contributor was Azam Khan, who scored an undefeated 30 off 10 with four sixes. In the seventeenth over, he blasted three sixes off Mark Adair to end the match in spectacular fashion.

Pakistan and Ireland will play their third and final Twenty20 International tomorrow, May 14.

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PCB will install floodlights for PSL matches at Quetta Stadium.

Published

6 days ago

Farwa

By installing floodlights by September, PCB will keep its word. Following stadium renovations, PSL matches would also be held in Quetta, according to Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

He stated at a press conference held at Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti Cricket Stadium that the possibility of holding Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Quetta was being considered.

In Gwadar and Quetta, he said, the PCB would do its part to promote cricket.
Quetta Stadium will soon have floodlights installed, as announced by the interior minister, which Chief Minister Bugti congratulated for the news.

The province has a wealth of skills, and installing floodlights will help promote sports and cricket in particular. He responded to a query by saying that chances will be given to the province’s youth at the federal level.

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The women’s team from Pakistan travels to England for a white-ball series.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

The national squad left Karachi earlier today to play three Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals in the series.

Dr. Muhammad Faisal, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in England, greeted the women’s team and management.

The team will soon depart for Leicester to play a practice match on 9 May against the ECB Development XI. On May 11, in Birmingham, the first Twenty20 International will take place.

Notably, this will be Pakistan’s eighth and final series of the current event cycle. The ODIs in the series are a part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022–25.

Pakistan women squad for England tour

Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar

Player support personnel: Nahida Khan (manager), Mauhtashim Rasheed (interim head coach), Saleem Jaffar (bowling coach), Taufeeq Umar (batting coach), Hanif Malik (fielding coach), Syed Nazir Ahmed (media manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist), Zubair Ahmed (analyst) and Hina Munawar (chief security officer)