Shahid Hashmi

He 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 […]

No 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 […]

DUBAI: 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 […]

KARACHI: 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 […]

KARACHI: 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 […]

LAHORE: Former spinner Mushtaq Ahmed believes that England’s cricketers would happily tour Pakistan and says his country deserved better having travelled the other way at the height of the pandemic. Ahmed, who has a foot in both camps after serving as England’s spin-bowling coach in 2009-2015, voiced his frustration after English cricket chiefs controversially cancelled […]

KARACHI: 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 […]

KARACHI: 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 […]

Arelentless 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 […]

Pakistan 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 […]