Sarfaraz Nawaz greets Zaka Ashraf with sumptuous dinner

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Chaudhry Muhammad Zaka Ashraf has left a legacy of sorts as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the years. 

Although none of his three tenures were allowed to go to the full distance for different reasons, yet he proved his mettle as an administrator par excellence in the whatever period he led the cricket affairs of the country. 

Recently, he undertook a visit of the United Kingdom (UK) and squeezed some time out of his typically packed schedule to have a session with Sarfaraz Nawaz, one of the greatest-ever fast bowlers produced by the country, for whom he has had tremendous respect for a long time. 

As all his friends, and even foes, know very well that Sarfaraz is blessed with a big heart who still believes in traditions of hospitality. Therefore, instead of just arranging a simple meeting, he threw a party for the former PCB chief to make it quite a memorable occasion. 

All along his career and after hanging his boots, Sarfaraz has been a man who’s never afraid to call a spade a spade. Always believing in letting his work to do the talking, instead of mobilizing support from one lobby or the other, he played cricket on his terms and gave more than hundred percent for the cause of the team every time he took the field. 

Globally acclaimed as the inventor of reverse swing, he helped Pakistan win innumerable matches. He was a real fighter, who rescued the team from crisis with his standout efforts. 

Who will ever forget his sensational spell at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1979 when all had seemed lost for Pakistan and skipper Mushtaq Mohammad was looking towards heavens to find out if there were threatening clouds overhead to force an abrupt end to the game! Yes, he captured seven wickets for just one run to turn it around decisively in an amazing display of swing bowling. 

Sarfaraz also hit headlines with his bold moves off the field which didn’t use to go well with the cricket bosses. He didn’t enjoy particularly good relationships with the functionaries of the board and, in a few instances, there were loud disagreements leading to controversies. 

But one cricket administrator who seems to have moved along most cordially with him is none other than the extremely polite and humble Zaka Ashraf, who is also a very sensible person. 

An alumnus of Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur, and Cadet College Petaro, where I also had the privilege of studying, Zaka Ashraf was first appointed as the PCB Chairman in October 2011. 

A court order in 2013 stopped him from performing his duties on the grounds that the process of his election was not transparent but the same court reinstated him in January 2014. His tenure was cut short again due to changes brought about in the PCB constitution. 

Zaka Ashraf was reappointed as the PCB Chairman once more in July 2023 but he resigned from his position only a few months later. It’s indeed a pity that he never got a full tenure which could have been of immense benefit to the Pakistan cricket affairs.

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Sohail Pappay: master of massage therapy

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sohail Ahmed, more famously known as Sohail Pappay in the cricket circles, has carved a niche for himself in the fields of massage therapy and physiotherapy. 

Maintaining a rather low profile and leading a simple life, this incredibly hard-working fellow, hailing from a middle-class family of Karachi, has mastered the art quietly having attained high level of skill and expertise in his chosen field. 

Even the celebrated cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Shaun Pollock, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mutiah Muraltharan and Mahela Jayawardane to name a few have spoken very highly of Sohail Pappay after being ‘treated’ by him from to time. 

He may not have earned any degree in massage therapy or physiotherapy but he has collected testimonials from quite a few high-achievers who have generously praised his skill set. He has proved to be much more than just being another masseur, who simply rubs or kneads the body to promote circulation and relaxation. 

“Sohail Ahmed worked with the England cricket team on their tour to Pakistan in 2000. He performed an excellent job as the team masseur for the duration of the Test matches. I would fully recommend that any future England tours would seek assistance from him. I, on behalf of the team, would like to thank him for his help,” Dean Conway, the physiotherapist of England squad, complimented. 

“Sohail Ahmed has helped the Indian team during its visit to Karachi and Lahore in September-October 1997,” Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian captain for the tour, acknowledged in a handwritten communication dated October 3, 1997. 

“Sohail Ahmed’s services were used by the Indian team on its tour to Pakistan in March-April 2004 as a masseur. He served as a real professional, always cheerful and working hard to keep my boys fit for the matches. His work culture was highly appreciated by the Indian players and he was very popular in the team. Well done, Pappay,” Prof R R Shetty, the Indian tour manager, documented. 

Besides England and India, Sohail has also worked with the national teams of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. He has also assisted the various senior outfits having visited Pakistan from time to time. He was also undertaken tours for carrying out similar assignments abroad. 

Despite having been blessed with gifted qualities, Sohail has been one of the under-achievers so far. He deserves to be accorded supported and recognized at top levels for doing a fabulous job with modest resources. 

He has progressed at the strength of his talent and passion but the time has come for those having the authority to lend him a helping hand. A down-to-earth person, he is easily accessible and doesn’t seem to have any egoistic problems. 

His work ethics are well and truly exceptional. His friendly nature allows him to get along with people, irrespective of their status, rather easily. 

Massage therapy is one of the vital elements in sports as it offers benefits like stress and pain reduction, improved sleep and mood, increased flexibility and circulation, and boosted immune function. It also helps lower stress hormones, release feel-good hormones like endorphins and serotonin, and can be effective for various conditions including arthritis, chronic fatigue, and sports injuries.

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Anwar-ul-Haq considers Dr Waqar Masood most suitable for helming PCB

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Anwar-ul-Haq, a former cricketer turned commentator and analyst, strongly reckons that Dr Waqar Masood Khan, an eminent economist with wide-ranging experience of both public and private sectors, is the most suitable person to head the affairs of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 

In an exclusive session with PNFS recently, Anwar, who was one of the most prolific opening batsmen in the country for a long time, felt that the game of cricket in Pakistan will benefit greatly if Dr Waqar was tasked with the responsibility of leading the PCB. 

It may be recalled that Dr Waqar had retired from government service in 2017 while he was appointed as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) in 2020. He was also given a mandate to raise maximum revenue as part of compliance to the IMF programme. 

Having done PhD in Economics and Masters in Political Economy from Boston University Massachusetts, United States, and Masters in Economics and LLB from the University of Karachi, he was accorded the status of a Minister of State, being assigned to carry out reforms within the tax machinery. 

Dr Waqar had earlier served as the Federal Secretary in Finance Division, prior to holding several prestigious positions in the Federal Government including Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary Finance Division, and Secretary Economic Affairs Division. 

As Anwar has pointed out, Dr Waqar, hailing from a sporting family, has a rich background of playing cricket as well which made could enable him to understand and manage the affairs of the game much better than those bureaucrats and politicians without such first-hand experience. 

Indeed, the Pakistan cricket affairs have not been managed properly in those times when its helmsmen have remained engaged in preoccupations leaving the ground open for conspiracies and mischiefs by people entrusted with the responsibilities in good faith. 

A full-time administrator, well versed with sound knowledge and experience of cricket as well as management aspects, is more likely to come good rather than those doing it with limited or negligible time at their disposal. 

Anwar’s recommendations do make sense and the Pakistan cricket stands a better chance of redeeming itself if Dr Waqar, having proven track record besides clean reputation, was brought in as the new boss. He could turn it around, if allowed the powers to do so.

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Cricket legends Sarfaraz Nawaz, Zaheer Abbas celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day together in London

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The lion-hearted Sarfaraz Nawaz is a friend of friends. The ‘declared’ inventor of reverse swing in cricket is a man of ideas. 

He was credited to have worked out innovative plans to get the batsmen out on the most lifeless of tracks back home where even the most sensational fast bowlers like Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson had struggled to take a wicket or two. 

Blessed with a golden heart, the Big Saif, as he is affectionately called in his circle of friends, has preferred to lead life on his terms more often than not. Never afraid to call a spade a spade, he has also paid the price for his candidness occasionally. 

One of his contemporaries, Zaheer Abbas, titled Asian Bradman at the strength of his heroics with the bat, is currently in England and Sarfaraz invited him to celebrate Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day at his London residence in the company of a few close friends. 

It was in the fitness of things that two of Pakistan’s living legends, Sarfaraz Nawaz and Zaheer Abbas, celebrated together the Independence Day of their beloved homeland even when living thousands of miles or kilometres away. 

Sarfaraz hosted the sumptuous luncheon party with the usual generosity and taste. Not surprisingly, desi dishes outnumbered the UK or European cuisine as both these legendary cricketers are known for their appetite for the delicious Pakistani food. 

The Managing Director of a top French bank and a renowned banker from Pakistan, Zahid Munir, was also present on the occasion as they shared matters of common interest. 

Although, primarily a reunion of old buddies, the luncheon party did also serve the purpose of sending positive vibes. The celebration of Independence Day reflected the patriotism of the cricket legends for their homeland even while living abroad.

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Syed Foundation mobilizing resources for KPK victims

Pakistan News & Features Services

The Karachi-based Syed Foundation, one of the premier welfare organizations working proactively for the cause of humanity, has once again come in the forefront to mobilize resources for the victims of the recent disasters in the northern areas of the country. 

Rising to the occasion, Syed Foundation, through a dedicated campaign, has urgently requested humanitarian aid to assist the flood and cloudburst victims in Buner and Swat. Donations have been sought in cash as well as in kind in order to reach out the affected people at the earliest. 

Kitchen items, dry ration hampers, medicines, shelter and relief supplies, milk for mothers and children, and biscuits are among the major goods sought.

Syed Foundation, since its inception, has had a track record of helping people in need.

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History repeats itself; PBSA directed to do away with chairman

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The promulgation of the National Sports Policy by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) in 2008 had brought to an end the 20-year-old tenure of Ali Asghar Valika as President of the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA). 

Now history is on verge of repeating itself as Alamgir Anwar Shaikh, the gentleman having succeeded Asghar Valika in 2008, seems set to lose his position as chairman of the PBSA following a recent PSB ruling, notified on July 25. 

“The highest position in the Federation shall be that of the President. No other title or designation such as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), or any equivalent shall exist within the Federation,” according to the article 6 of the rules, called National Sports Federations (Tenure) Rules, 2025. 

The PBSA now seems to be left with no other option than to do away with its current chairman, Alamgir Shaikh, who stands disqualified for holding any office in the body which he headed as its President for eight years, from 2008 to 2016. 

It remains to be seen if Almagir Shaikh, who has faced numerous controversies of different kinds in the past, chooses to withdraw from the chairmanship voluntarily or the saner elements in the PBSA persuade him to quit the body to save it from further embarrassment and possible governmental action. 

The onus will be on the PBSA movers and shakers to act swiftly for the sake of the future of cue sports in the country. They should not be losing sight of the fact that the PBSA was banned by the PSB in 2008 and it was reinstated only after a change of guard. 

If the PBSA leadership had swallowed the bitter pill in September 2008 in the larger interest of cue sports, there appears no reason why they could not make another sacrifice of sorts. 

When Asghar Valika, credited to have revived snooker, could leave the Association, Alamgir Shaikh could do the same quietly. It will not be out of context to mention here that following his retirement as President at the behest of the PSB, the PBSA had unanimously elected Asghar Valika as its life chairman in view of his services to cue sports in general and snooker in particular. 

Constitutionally, the chairman was just a ceremonial post with President, being the leader of the house. A couple of tenures of four years each of Alamgir Shaikh was followed by that of Munawwar Hussain Shaikh from 2016 to 2020. 

Jawed Karim was elected as the PBSA President in 2020. One of the most hotly debated decisions in his tenure was the sidelining of Asghar Valika from chairmanship which was believed to be manipulated by Alamgir Shaikh to get himself in the driving seat sometime in 2021. This created bad taste within the ranks of the PBSA Managing Committee, the majority of whom did not favour the sacking of Asghar Valika. 

Now, with the sword of the National Sports Policy hanging, the time has come for Alamgir Shaikh to take a forced break from the PBSA. It may well turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan snooker.

The PBSA has to make a decision, the sooner the better. It remains to be seen if its office-bearers will adopt a proactive approach or will they prefer playing safe by letting the enigmatic Alamgir Shaikh to make the decision himself. 

While he has made every conceivable move to perpetuate his rule within the PBSA by inducting his own family members and buddies in the new set-up which came to the fore in the last elections in 2024, the road may still be bumpy for him if the elder statesmen express their unwillingness to support Alamgir Shaikh despite the PSB advice. 

There was a time in the past when he enjoyed most cordial of relationships at the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), which takes care of the sports affairs at the national level, besides the PSB. By the look of things, he seems to have lost favour at Islamabad too which means his days at the PBSA might be over sooner than later.

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Marathoner Yousuf Malik nominated for Presidential award

Pakistan News & Features Services

Pakistan’s celebrated international marathoner, Muhammad Yousuf Malik, has been nominated for the Presidential award in recognition of his outstanding performance in the various competitions across the globe. 

Hailed for his commitment to athletic excellence and social advocacy, Yousuf has made waves through his consistent efforts and impactful representation of Pakistan in major international events. He has been acclaimed for showcasing the strength, resilience, and unity of the national spirit on the world stage. 

He happens to be the first marathoner to have emerged from the region of Muzaffarabad to have proved his mettle on the international scene. He is set to receive the Presidential award in his native city on October 24.

Talking briefly to PNFS, he stated to be feeling thrilled to have been nominated for the coveted awards and looks forward to bringing bigger laurels for the country in future.

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Muhammad Yousuf, Mona Khan ready to represent Pakistan at London Marathon on April 27

Pakistan News & Features Services

Pakistan’s renowned international marathoners, Muhammad Yousuf and Mona Khan, are all set to raise the national flag high once again as they prepare to represent Pakistan in the prestigious London World Major Marathon scheduled to be held on April 27. 

Known for their commitment to athletic excellence and social advocacy, Yousuf and Mona have already made waves globally through their consistent performances and impactful representation of Pakistan in major international events. Their participation in the London Marathon is a part of their continued efforts to showcase the strength, resilience, and unity of the Pakistani spirit on the global stage. 

Muhammad Yousuf, a dedicated athelete, was thrilled to be preparing for another marquee event on the global stage as he looked forward to earning more laurels for himself as well as for the country. 

Mona Khan, who holds the honour of being the first female anchorperson and journalist from Pakistan to actively participate in international marathons, was also upbeat about the upcoming event. She proudly represents the women of Pakistan and the female media industry on the global sports stage, inspiring countless others to break barriers and pursue their passions without limitations. 

The commitment of athletic excellence exemplified the purpose-driven journey of these two elite athletes. The duo of Yousuf and Mona, while lacing up their shoes once more, would be carrying Pakistan’s hopes, dreams, and message of peace to one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.

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