A decade after Lord’s scandal, match-fixing still haunts Pakistan cricketon June 6, 2020KARACHI: When Mohammad Amir bowled a no-ball against England on the opening day of the 2010 Test at Lord’s, no one could have imagined his long stride past the crease marked the first step in a historic fixing scandal. Two days later it was revealed that three no-balls — two by Amir, and one by […]
Umar Akmal — Pakistan cricket’s enfant terrible faces reckoningon May 14, 2020KARACHI: If ever a soap opera were to be made about Pakistan cricket, Umar Akmal might be a good candidate for the role of enfant terrible. The talented-yet-wayward batsman is scrambling to save his once-promising career, after he was hit with a three-year ban for failing to report match-fixing offers. Umar is expected to learn […]
Shadab Khan’s journey — From village cricket to World Cupon May 31, 2019Arelentless training routine and “unparalleled’ commitment have taken Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan from club cricket in his remote village to the World Cup in just a few short years. The 20-year-old, already third in the WT20 bowling rankings, has caught the eye of none other than Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan — who led Pakistan […]
Spirited Pakistan pin World Cup 2019 hopes on rising generationon May 22, 2019Pakistan are pinning their hopes for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 glory on a crop of youngsters who have the talent to beat anybody but could also pay for their lack of experience. The side have only won the showpiece 50-over tournament once — under the captaincy of current Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in […]
Pakistans iconic Gaddafi Stadium prepares for another historic momenton September 9, 2017LAHORE: Groundsmen are rolling down the pitches, welders are repairing barbed wire, and workers are splashing on a new coat of paint at Pakistan’s centrepiece Gaddafi Stadium, which has witnessed both history and controversy – and is now preparing to retake cricket’s world stage. Next week the ground will ring out with the sound of […]
Salman Butt hopes for new eraon September 8, 2017LAHORE: Former captain Salman Butt clearly remembers the way he was dismissed against Sri Lanka in Lahore in 2009 – the last batsman out in the last Test in Pakistan, before a terror attack on the visiting team’s bus scared off touring sides. Salman, now 32, was run out in the last over of the […]