Shadab Khan –– Pakistan’s match-winner who brings ‘fire and life’ on November 13, 2022MELBOURNE: No matter what happens when Pakistan face England in Sunday’s final at the MCG, Shadab Khan has had a Twenty20 World Cup to remember. Starring with both bat and ball, the 24-year-old all-rounder helped energise Pakistan’s flagging campaign when all seemed lost. After last-ball defeats to India and Zimbabwe, Shadab pulled them back from […]
Shaheen fitness crucial to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup challenge on October 13, 2022ISLAMABAD: Former champions Pakistan are counting on fit-again pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi to be back to his destructive best at the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia. The 22-year-old was on Tuesday given the green light to join the squad after recovering from a right knee injury sustained in the first Test against Sri Lanka […]
‘War minus shooting’ — partition created fierce cricket rivalry on August 13, 2022KARACHI: When India and Pakistan were forged out of violent partition 75 years ago, the split also created one of sport’s greatest rivalries. Today, any cricket match between the two nations is one of the most watched events on the global sporting calendar — and victory used to promote their respective nationalism. So strong is […]
‘King’ Babar Azam wants World Cup glory to achieve boyhood dreams on June 15, 2022High-flying skipper Babar Azam hopes that his extraordinary run-scoring can fire Pakistan to World Cup glory — and in the process fulfil a childhood dream. The 27-year-old is in the form of his life across the three formats of international cricket and last week became the first batsman to hit three consecutive centuries on two […]
Pakistan’s Imamul Haq makes a name for himself, relatively speaking on March 10, 2022RAWALPINDI: Pakistan opener Imamul Haq has shed some of the burden of being the nephew of a legend with a century in each innings against Australia in the drawn first Test. The 26-year-old’s uncle is former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, but Imam’s exploits in the drawn Rawalpindi Test have now given him recognition in his own […]
Pakistan ’emperor’ Babar ready to conquer world on November 10, 2021He was the fresh-faced 15-year-old who stared down Shoaib Akhtar in the nets, became the highest-ranked T20 batsman in the world before being elevated to national hero after masterminding a rare Pakistan victory over India. In the breathless aftermath of that 10-wicket win over their fiercest rivals at the World Cup, the national cricket captain […]
Pakistan’s iron man Asif Ali hits his way to stardom on October 31, 2021No Pakistan cricketer has been as maligned and criticised on his failures and lack of performances as batsman Asif Ali.Even his selection for the Twenty20 World Cup earlier this month received flak, not only on the national television channels but also vociferously on social media.Asif also struggled with his form after his 18-month-old daughter, Noor […]
Rashid Khan eyes World Cup glory not wedding bells on October 22, 2021DUBAI: Rashid Khan insists his mind is occupied by the World Cup and not wedding bells as the leg-spin wizard looks to inspire Afghanistan at the Twenty20 global showpiece.Still only 23, Rashid is key to his nation’s hopes of a first world title and a potential triumph which would deliver a rare bout of good […]
‘Skinny guy’ to ‘Pakistan life-saver’: Shoaib Malik eyes T20 World Cup glory with last hurrah on October 21, 2021KARACHI: When Shoaib Malik takes the field for Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup, the 39-year-old all-rounder could be forgiven for feeling his age.When Malik made his international debut in 1999, current teammates such as pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Junior, and batsman Haider Ali were not even born.Vice-captain Shadab Khan was […]
Pakistan to summon spirit of 2009 for T20 title, says Afridi on October 15, 2021KARACHI: Shahid Afridi, the box office trailblazer of Pakistan white ball cricket, believes his “unpredictable” nation can summon the spirit of 2009 and win a second T20 World Cup. Afridi was man of the match in a nail-biting seven-run semi-final win over South Africa in the tournament 12 years ago where he made 51. He […]