Islamabad, Mar 09, 2025: India and New Zealand have been among the most consistent teams in ICC events over the past decade. Since 2011, India have played 86 matches in ICC white-ball tournaments, securing 70 victories—significantly ahead of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Australia have won 49 out of 77 matches, while New Zealand and South Africa each have 45 wins from the same number of games. In the 14 ICC men’s events leading up to the 2025 Champions Trophy—including two World Test Championship (WTC) finals—India have reached the knockout stage in all but two tournaments. Their record includes…
Author: Sports Desk
Islamabad, Mar 08, 2025: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Unilever, marking its first dedicated commercial collaboration for women’s cricket. The two-year agreement, commencing at this year’s Women’s Cricket World Cup in India and running until the end of 2027, aims to accelerate the sport’s development on a global scale. Unveiled at a special Criiio Cricket Festival event in Dubai, coinciding with International Women’s Day, the partnership seeks to empower women in cricket. The festival, attended by 100 young girls, highlighted the growing momentum behind the women’s game. This collaboration will encompass major ICC events,…
Islamabad, Mar 08, 2025: Mohammad Amir has expressed interest in playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) once he secures UK citizenship. The 32-year-old, who is eligible for British nationality through his marriage to Narjis Khan, confirmed that he could participate in the IPL as early as 2026. Speaking on a local television show, Amir stated that if given the opportunity, he would be open to playing in the tournament. He also revealed his preference for joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), citing their need for an experienced bowler. During the discussion, Pakistan’s Test batter Ahmed Shehzad supported the idea, suggesting…
Islamabad, Mar 08, 2025: Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal has commented on the recent social media controversy involving Babar Azam’s father, Azam Siddique. Siddique had criticized ex-cricketers following Babar’s exclusion from Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Babar, who has faced intense scrutiny for his recent performances, managed just 87 runs in two innings during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. His omission from the squad led Siddique to express disappointment on social media, questioning the selectors’ decision and criticizing former players for their remarks. He also defended his right to speak as Babar’s mentor and…
Islamabad, Mar 08, 2025: Moeen Ali has shared his concerns over the current state of ODI cricket, indirectly blaming the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the format’s growing unpopularity. Speaking on the issue, Moeen expressed his belief that several recent rule changes have tilted the game heavily in favor of batters, making life harder for bowlers. The 37-year-old pointed to fielding restrictions and the introduction of two new balls, which he argues have removed important elements of bowling, such as reverse swing. Moeen criticized the extra fielder in the post-powerplay overs, calling it a “horrendous” rule that prevents bowlers from…
Islamabad, Mar 07, 2025: The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced a major change to curb time-wasting by goalkeepers. From next season, goalkeepers holding onto the ball for more than eight seconds will concede a corner kick instead of the previously ignored indirect free-kick rule. Referees will be encouraged to manually count down from five, ensuring goalkeepers are aware of the impending penalty. Trials conducted in Italy, Malta, and England’s Premier League 2 showed minimal disruptions, with only four goalkeepers sanctioned over hundreds of matches. FIFA has already confirmed the rule’s implementation at the upcoming 32-team Club World Cup…
Islamabad, Mar 07, 2025: Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has made a surprising return to the national team at the age of 40, reversing his retirement decision from last year. The former captain, ranked fourth among the highest men’s international goalscorers, had played his last match for India in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier. At the time, he cited instinct as the reason for stepping away, making an emotional exit in front of nearly 59,000 fans in Kolkata. However, on Thursday, India head coach Manolo Marquez confirmed Chhetri’s return for the upcoming March international window. With India already…
Islamabad, Mar 07, 2025: Waqar Younis has seemingly responded to Mohammad Hafeez’s remarks about the 1990s cricket greats, sharing a cryptic post on social media in defense of the era’s players. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), the former captain shared an old picture alongside Wasim Akram, highlighting their combined bowling records. The legendary pacer captioned it in bold, “90’s KA LONDA (Boys from the 90s),” appearing to suggest that their performances spoke for themselves amid ongoing criticism. Hafeez, who represented Pakistan in all three formats, recently questioned the legacy of the 1990s cricket icons while analyzing Pakistan’s early exit from…
Islamabad, Mar 07, 2025: A significant contingent of Pakistani cricketers is set to make a substantial impact in the upcoming Hundred draft, with 45 players officially registered. Leading the lineup is Naseem Shah, who has set his reserve price at £120,000. Imad Wasim and promising batter Saim Ayub have each listed a reserve price of £78,500. Other notable registrants include vice-captain Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain, each with a reserve price of £63,000. Additionally, players such as Mohammad Abbas, Haider Ali, and Ammad Butt have registered without specifying a reserve price. The Hundred 2025 draft, scheduled for Wednesday,…
Rising left-arm pacer, Akif Javed, has expressed his determination to become one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history, drawing inspiration from legendary speedster Shoaib Akhtar. In a documentary originally produced in 2020 and recently shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Akif discussed his bowling ambitions. He noted that while his fastest delivery so far has been recorded at 145 kph, he aims to surpass that and deliver the fastest ball in cricket history. The documentary was re-released as Akif prepares to join the national squad for the upcoming series white balls series against New Zealand. He acknowledged the…
