KARACHI, Nov 20(ABC): Pakistan’s team might not be participating in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar but footballs made in the Asian country are set to shine at the mega event. The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be played from November 20 to December 18 at eight venues in Qatar, with 32 teams playing a total of 65 matches. …

LONDON, Nov 18(ABC): Legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has paid tribute to his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. While speaking in an interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV, Ronaldo revealed that he has a special relationship with the Argentine star. “He is an amazing player. Magic. Top. As a person, we share the stage …

Nov 18(ABC): The Indian cricket board (BCCI) responded to the national team’s defeat in the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia last week by sacking their senior selection committee on Friday. India were dumped out of the tournament in Australia after a 10-wicket hammering by eventual champions England and Rohit Sharma’s side was labelled “clueless” and “out of …

Nov 18(ABC): In a major achievement, Pakistan’s legendary former cricketer Wasim Akram has been appointed as brand ambassador for the third edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) slated to be played from December 6 to 23. The “Sultan of Swing” and Sri Lanka’s former captain Sanath Jayasuriya have been named “brand ambassadors” for LPL. Expressing his delight after being named …

MULTAN, Nov 18(ABC): Pakistan under-19 cricket team beat Bangladesh under-19 by seven wickets in the second and last T20I match, levelling the series one-one in Multan on Friday. Batting first, Bangladesh scored 163 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs. Pakistan achieved the target for the loss of three wickets in 18.2 overs. Pakistan’s Saad Baig was …

LAHORE, Nov 16(ABC): Pakistan Test opener Abdullah Shafique is optimistic about the three-match Test series against England scheduled to start on December 1 in Rawalpindi. Speaking during an interview , the 22-year-old said that the team is eagerly waiting for the series against England, calling it a challenge for the Green Shirts. “We are a good Test side but just …

LISBON, Nov 16(ABC): Cristiano Ronaldo is “always happy” when playing for Portugal and his problems at Manchester United will not damage the country’s prospects at the World Cup, international teammate Joao Mario said. The superstar forward blasted United in an explosive TV interview days before the start of the tournament in Qatar, saying he felt “betrayed” by the club and …

LAHORE, Nov 16(ABC): In a bid to avoid inconvenience to cricket fans amid PTI’s long march in Islamabad, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering changing the venue for the opening Test of Pakistan-England series from Rawalpindi to Karachi. The first Test of the three-match series is slated to be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from December 1 to 5. However, due …

Adelaide, Australia, Nov 16 (ABC): New skipper Pat Cummins admitted Wednesday Australia have a point to prove after their failure at the Twenty20 World Cup, with champions England in their sights in a one-day series this week. Australia went into the World Cup as defending champions but failed to go beyond the group phase, in contrast to Jos Buttler’s men …

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (ABC): Top Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf, who returned home on Wednesday, said the whole nation was proud and happy, on the national team’s performance in the ICC Men’s Twentry20 Cricket World Cup. “We always try to give our best and make the nation happy. As an individual and as a team, we are very happy with our …

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (ABC): Pakistani Skipper Babar Azam has climbed up to No 3, in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup. The Pakistan skipper scored a match-winning fifty in the semi-final against New Zealand, gaining one spot to climb up to No 3 in the rankings, said a press release. …

LAHORE, Nov 16(ABC): The Irish women’s team clinched the T20I series against Pakistan by winning the third match in Lahore on Wednesday. Ireland won the series 2-1 against Pakistan, making it the first T20I series win for the Irish team in Asia and also the maiden away T20I series victory for the visitors. After deciding to bat first at the Gaddafi …

MELBOURNE, Nov 15(ABC): Australia captain Pat Cummins has opted out of playing the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2023, citing a heavy international schedule. The Test and one-day skipper played the last three IPL tournaments with Kolkata Knight Riders but cut short his 2022 campaign due to a hip injury. “I’ve made the difficult decision to miss next year’s IPL,” he said on Twitter …

DOHA, Nov 15(ABC):  The week-long countdown to the World Cup in Qatar began on Monday as the world’s leading footballers focused their attention on one of the most controversial tournaments in history. After a last weekend of action, domestic leagues paused for six weeks to allow the tournament to take place, but preparation time is short for the teams. The …

Nov 15(ABC): Pakistan have defeated Ireland by six wickets to level the three-match women’s T20I series 1-1 in Lahore on Monday. The match was reduced to 17 overs per side due to rain. Chasing a target of 119 runs, Pakistan reached home in 16 overs for the loss of four wickets. Opener Javeria Khan top-scored with 35 runs in 39 …

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM, Nov 15(ABC): Cristiano Ronaldo said he felt “betrayed” by Manchester United as he claimed manager Erik ten Hag and other senior executives are trying to force him out of the club in an explosive interview on Sunday. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been a peripheral figure on the field for United since Ten Hag took charge …

LAHORE, Nov 15(ABC): Amid reports of a serious injury scare, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared on Monday that Shaheen Shah Afridi’s scans have shown “no signs of an injury” but he has been advised two-week rehabilitation “Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been advised two-week rehabilitation after he landed awkwardly while taking Harry Brook’s catch during Sunday’s ICC Men’s T20 World …

ISLAMABAD, Nov 14 (ABC): Pakistani duo of Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been named in the Upstox Most Valuable Team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. Besides the Pakistani duo players from five different teams have been named in the Upstox Most Valuable Team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, said a press release. …

Nov 12(ABC): Greg Barclay was on Saturday re-elected unopposed as independent chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after Zimbabwe’s Tavengwa Mukuhlani pulled out of contention. The former New Zealand Cricket boss succeeded Shashank Manohar in 2020 and retained the job for another two years with the board’s full support, the sport’s governing body said. “Over the last two years …

Nov 12(ABC): The toss for the highly-anticipated T20 World Cup final between Pakistan and England has been rescheduled and will be held at 12:30pm instead of 12:22pm as per the new timetable. The Babar Azam-led side will take on England in the mega-event’s decider in a bid to lift the T20 World Cup trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday. …

Nov 12(ABC): Following is a list of players who have been called up for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup in Qatar. Argentina Injured forward Paulo Dybala has not played for his club AS Roma since early October but has been named in the squad, while Lionel Messi will lead the side. Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani (River …

MELBOURNE, Nov 12(ABC): Skipper Jos Buttler says the emphatic way England crushed India to reach Sunday’s Twenty20 World Cup final “doesn’t count for anything” as they bid to become champions in both white-ball formats. India were humbled by 10 wickets in the semi-finals with Buttler’s composed 80 and Alex Hales’s blistering 86 setting up a blockbuster showdown with Babar Azam’s Pakistan. The England …

Nov 12(ABC): Captain Babar Azam told his rejuvenated Pakistan side on Saturday to ride the wave of four consecutive victories and win the Twenty20 World Cup final. The 2009 champions suffered last-ball losses to India and Zimbabwe to start their tournament but bounced back to surge into Sunday’s final against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. “We have lost the first two matches, …

MELBOURNE, Nov 11(ABC): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has tweaked its playing conditions to ensure a result in the T20 World Cup’s final game between Pakistan and England, which is currently under threat of being hampered by rain. The ICC, in a statement on Friday, said that the Event Technical Committee (ETC) has increased the provision of additional playing time …

MELBOURNE, Nov 11(ABC): Pakistan cricket team’s mentor Matthew Hayden has termed the T20 World Cup an opportunity for the Pakistan cricket team to set the nation alight and alive again through their performances. Talking to the media at Melbourne Cricket Ground after the team’s practice session, the former Australian cricketer said that the T20 World Cup final on Sunday between Pakistan and …

KARACHI, Nov 11(ABC): Two Pakistani players — pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and all-rounder Shadab Khan, have been shortlisted for the T20 World Cup 2022 Player of the Tournament award. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has nominated nine exceptional performers for the award. Shadab is the joint highest wicket-taker along with Shaheen for Pakistan with 10 wickets in hand in the mega tournament. “Shadab Khan …

NEW DELHI, Nov 11(ABC): Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma could be victims of wholesale change to India’s T20 team after the catastrophic World Cup semi-final defeat to England. England romped to a 10-wicket victory on Thursday at the Adelaide Oval, chasing down the 169-run target with four overs to spare to set up a final on Sunday against India’s arch-rivals Pakistan. Openers …

MELBOURNE, Nov 11(ABC): England and Pakistan’s staff will be poring over weather charts as well as tactics in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup final, with a gloomy forecast threatening to scupper the decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Heavy rain is expected on Sunday’s match day and also the reserve day on Monday as a multi-year La Nina weather phenomenon …

LAHORE, Nov 11(ABC): Pakistan all-format captain and the most successful batter in the history of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Babar Azam, will don Peshawar Zalmi colours in the eighth edition of the PSL. With 2,413 runs under his belt in 68 matches, the prolific right-hander is the all-time highest scorer of PSL. Babar represented Islamabad United in the inaugural edition …

JOHANNESBURG (Web Desk) – Keegan Petersen has been ruled out of South Africa s three-Test tour of Australia because of a hamstring tear. Petersen sustained the injury at the weekend, during the CSA T20 Challenge final, and will need between six and eight weeks to recover. This is the second tour Petersen will miss since making his international debut in 2021; …

Nov 10(ABC): In a major development, Australia’s T20I captain Aaron Finch has registered for the much-anticipated eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) player draft 2023. Finch has vast T20 experience under his belt, with nearly 11,000 runs in 367 matches at a strike rate of 139.31. England’s Reece Topley, Tom Curran, and Adil Rashid, South Africa’s Wayne Parnell, …

Nov 10(ABC): A prediction made by English all-rounder Ben Stokes one year ago came true on Thursday when England crushed India by 10 wickets to set up a Twenty20 World Cup final with Pakistan. On October 29, 2021, Stokes posted a tweet asking his fans if they thought Pakistan and England will play the final. He posted the tweet when …

Geneva, Nov 9(ABC): The Ferrari in which Formula One legend Michael Schumacher won the 2003 World Championship title sold for nearly $15 million at auction in Geneva on Wednesday. “This remarkable car has achieved a world record price for a modern-era Formula One,” the Sotheby s auctioneer said after the F2003-GA, Chassis 229 car went under the hammer for 13 million …

DUBAI, Nov 9(ABC): Wanindu Hasaranga has regained the top spot among T20I bowlers, replacing Rashid Khan, after a successful T20 World Cup, where he picked up 15 wickets in eight matches. Hasaranga picked up three-wicket hauls three times in the tournament. His 3 for 8 against UAE and 3 for 28 against Netherlands ensured Sri Lanka turned their first-round campaign …

Nov 9(ABC): Pakistan are playing against the New Zealand in first semi-final match of the T20 World Cup at Sydney Cricket Ground with both teams seeking to qualify for the finale. England and India are also eyeing the finale and will play the second semi-final match in Adelaide on Thursday. Fans and supporters including cricketers are wishing for a Pakistan …

SYDNEY, Nov 9(ABC):  Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit a combined century after 15 matches in the T20 semi-final against New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground. The opening duo started strongly in Pakistan’s 153-run chase against the Black Caps. Babar and Rizwan had before maintained a 100-run partnership against England in the home series. The skipper has hit …

SYDNEY, Nov 9(ABC): Pakistan skipper Babar Azam took a sweeping jibe at the Men In Green’s critics and asked them to “enjoy” now as the team had made it to the T20 World Cup final. Before the semi-final, when Pakistan beat New Zealand by seven wickets, everyone had questions about the opening pair of the team — Babar and wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad …

SYDNEY, Nov 9(ABC): Kane Williamson tried to play down concerns that New Zealand seem incapable of winning a global limited-overs title after they again failed to go the distance at the T20 World Cup on Wednesday. The Black Caps have long been a force in white-ball cricket, but they have yet to turn it into any silverware despite coming agonisingly …

SYDNEY , Nov 6(ABC): Dawid Malan could be doubtful for England s T20 World Cup semi-final in Adelaide on Thursday after picking up a groin injury while fielding against Australia at the SCG. Malan limped off in the 15th over after pulling up as he chased a ball to the boundary. He was padded up to bat as England collapsed …

ADELAIDE, Nov 6(ABC): Pakistan’s leg-spinner Shadab Khan took the most T20 wickets in the match against Bangladesh, equalling former captain Shahid Afridi’s record. Shadab became the joint-highest wicket-taker in the shortest form of the game along with Afridi with 97 wickets for Pakistan. The new record was made after the ace bowler took two wickets in the T20 World Cup clash against Bangladesh …