Sports

Pak vs Aus: Usman Khawaja says Australia eye scoring as many runs as they can in first innings

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

“As many as you can,” Khawaja says about scoring in first innings.
“It will be interesting to see how tomorrow goes,” opener says.
Usman remained unbeaten with 127 from 266 deliveries on first day.

KARACHI: Australian batter Usman Khawaja said Saturday his side would like to score “as many [runs] as they can” during their first innings and have an upper hand on Pakistan.

Talking to journalists after the first day’s play, Khawaja termed Pakistan’s bowling tactic in the middle of the day as “negative” in the face of a hard-hitting Australian batting side.

“As many as you can,” Khawaja said while speaking to journalists via video link when he was asked how much Australia would like to post on the scoreboard during the first innings before letting Pakistan bat.

“It will be interesting to see how tomorrow goes. I think if we bat well enough tomorrow morning, we’ll have an opportunity to drive the game. I felt like Pakistan were in a perfect position last game but they just didn’t do it, they didn’t really take many opportunities to increase the run rate,” he said.

The opener said he was eyeing to take his side to 400 or 500 runs in the first innings, but noted that it was still a long shot as the current score was 251.

He mentioned that in the middle session of the first day, Pakistani spinners went a little bit “negative” to the legside, trying to slow the scoreboard.

“I don’t know if it backfired. And I think it’s pretty hard to bowl fast out there consistently. It’s very hot. So, I think spinners had to bowl in that sort of period,” he mentioned while discussing Pakistan’s strategy.

Usman remained unbeaten with 127 from 266 deliveries. Talking about his innings, the opening batter said that every century is special and it felt good when the crowd were chanting “Khawaja Khawaja”.

He also mentioned that he has relatives in Karachi and his relatives were present at the stadium when he scored the century.

“My family’s all from Karachi. I was born in Islamabad and my parents are from Karachi, so this one meant a lot too,” Usman said about his century at the National Stadium.

Sports

Babar Azam shares picture from Masjid-e-Nabawi

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah in the holy month of Ramadan, has shared his picture from Madina for his fans.

Babar, who was earlier scheduled to participate in a Ramadan tournament in Lahore, will perform Umrah in the ongoing holy month.

The star player shared a picture standing in the courtyard of Masjid-e-Nabawi, which is the second-holiest site after Masjid al-Haram and holds great importance to Muslims.

On Wednesday, Babar’s father Azam Siddique shared a picture with his son before he departed for Saudi Arabia.

Babar’s fans and followers have congratulated him for being able to perform another Umrah as the latter was in Saudi Arabia last Ramadan too and asked him to pray for winning the world cup.

Meanwhile, Babar’s teammate Haris Rauf performed Umrah on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, Haris shared his picture while performing the pilgrimage.

Alhamdullilah 🤲 pic.twitter.com/2AqsYEg5WC
— Haris Rauf (@HarisRauf14) March 30, 2023

Test cricketer Mohammad Abbas also performed Umrah this Ramadan.

It must be noted here that Babar, Haris, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman were given rest during the Afghanistan T20I series.

Entertainment

WATCH: Babar Azam becomes youngest cricketer to receive Sitara-e-Imtiaz

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Thursday became the youngest cricketer to be conferred with the country’s third-highest civilian award Sitara-e-Imtiaz.

Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar was conferred with the award by Governor Baligh Ur Rehman at an investiture ceremony held at the Punjab Governor House as part of Pakistan Day celebrations.

With the conferment of the award, Babar has become the youngest cricketer to be awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz at the age of 28 for his outstanding achievements in the field of sports.

Immense honour to have received Sitara-e-Imtiaz in the presence of my mother and father.

This award is for my parents, fans and the people of 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/Gafwlu3rUC
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) March 23, 2023

The skipper called it an “immense honour” to receives the award in the presence of his parrents.

“This award is for my parents, fans and the people of Pakistan,” he tweeted.

Previously, Babar’s predecessor Sarfaraz Ahmed held the record as the youngest cricketer to be awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz.

Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan to the Champions Trophy title in 2017, was conferred with the award by then Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair at the Governor House in Karachi in 2018.

Last year on August 14, the government announced that it will be conferring Babar with the country’s third-highest civilian honour.

Babar made his debut in international cricket in May 2015 against Zimbabwe. His performances eventually led debuts to T20Is and Tests in 2016.

In 47 Tests, Babar has scored 3,696 runs with an average of 48.63, while in 95 ODI’s Babar has scored 4,813 runs at an average of 59.41. In 99 T20Is, Babar has amassed 3,355 runs at an average of 41.41.

Babar, in his ongoing cricket career, has won multiple awards including ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Year, Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. Under his captaincy, Pakistan defeated India for the first time in a world cup match and also reached the finals of the last T20 world cup.

Apart from Babar and Sarfaraz other cricketers that have received the award include Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, and Shahid Afridi for their outstanding contributions.

While Mohammad Yousuf received the award in 2011, Saeed Ajmal in 2015, Inzamam ul Haq in 2005 and Javed Miandad in 1992.

Sports

‘Dirty politics’: Shaheen comes out in defence of Shahid Afridi

Published

2 weeks ago

Farwa

Star pacer Shaheen Afridi has come out in defence of his father-in-law Shahid Afridi who has been dragged into “dirty politics” by a fake statement about former prime minister Imran Khan.

“I request you all to only think about Pakistan. We should not indulge ourselves into any act which divides us further,” the Pakistani cricketer said in a statement, sharing a video statement of Shahid Afridi.

“Hum Sab ko apni apni fields me positive reh ker Pakistan ka haq Ada kerna hoga. Pakistan Noor hai or Allah pak is Noor Ki Hamesha hifazat farmayain ge, Ameen.”

I request you all to only think about Pakistan. We should not indulge ourselves into any act which divides us further. Hum Sab ko apni apni fields me positive reh ker Pakistan ka haq Ada kerna hoga. Pakistan Noor hai or Allah pak is Noor Ki Hamesha hifazat farmayain ge, Ameen. https://t.co/ZCUp6CPZi4
— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) March 19, 2023

Earlier, in a hard-hitting video statement, the former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi slammed those dragging him in their “dirty politics”.

pic.twitter.com/e4aHS1WgIH
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) March 19, 2023

“I am observing since yesterday that a statement is being shared on social media under my name about former prime minister Imran Khan is very sad news. Whoever is doing this, is indulging in very dirty politics. Neither I want to be part of this activity nor I am involved in this.”

The former chief selector, in a visibly angry mood, said that he had the courage to say whatever he wants to say.

“I never made any such statement anywhere on my social media. So please don’t involve me in this dirty politics. Aap ko apki siasat mubarak ho. My only politics is to serve this nation.”