Younis Khan should get befitting respect, recognition

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Isn’t it strange that Younis Khan, one of the greatest-ever cricketers to be produced by Pakistan, has yet not been accorded the kind of respect and recognition he deserves for earning so much glories for the country? 

Doesn’t he merit the same degree of admiration for winning the World Cup like the one granted to the other captain for bringing home the trophy? 

Honestly speaking, Younis has not been fairly treated by the powers that be despite his incredible performances. Yes, he was the skipper of the team when Pakistan emerged triumphant in the ICC T20 World Cup in England during the summer of 2009. 

That’s the only time the country has won the T20I title since its inception in 2007, which makes the conquest even more remarkable. 

Please also don’t forget that Younis has scored the highest number of runs as well as centuries for Pakistan in Test cricket. Do we need to be reminded that he is the only player in with five fourth-innings Test centuries which is a world record. 

He scored as many as half a dozen six Test double centuries, which are joint-most for the country with the great Javed Miandad. 

Let us also not lose sight of the fact that he remains the only Pakistani batsman to score centuries against all nine other Test nations. He also holds records for most century partnerships for Pakistan. 

He has fourth-highest conversion rate from 50 to 100 among the batsmen having scored 20 or more centuries. Don’t also overlook the incredible feat of scoring as many as 11 centuries after having turned 35. He became the first Pakistani cricketer with 100 Test catches, also holding the record for most catches by a substitute fielder. 

His record in One-day Internationals is no less impressive despite the fact that he was used as a floater in the batting order during his first 90 matches whereby he was sent into bat at different positions with limited number of balls left to be negotiated. 

Younis was not allowed to bat at a particular position for a long time, which amounted to injustice with his talents. He could have been much more useful for the team if he was not victimized in the early part of his ODI career. Yet, when he got the chance, he proved his critics and detractors absolutely wrong. 

He amassed 7,249 runs in 265 ODIs with seven centuries and 48 half-centuries besides plucking 135 catches. His strike rate of 75.29 was as good as any other leading contemporary batter. 

Needless to say, he was a team man to the core, who never cared for his personal record or individual glory. He was a selfless person in the truest sense of the word. That’s why he sacrificed his wicket on innumerable occasions for the sake of the team, not caring for his batting average or anything like that. 

That’s how he was dismissed in 80s and 90s on quite a few times. He could have scored many more centuries if he thought of himself which he never did. Yet, he was criticized occasionally for not producing the goods, which was grossly unfair. 

Younis has a history of having absorbed the pressures of all kinds. Today, although he never admits, but he must be wondering why he has not been given the importance he so richly deserves. It would be in national interest if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) assigns him the task of picking and grooming raw cricketers, something Rahul Dravid did so successfully for India in the recent past.

Isn't it sad that despite having an illustrious career free from any scandals or controversies, he has yet not been offered a decent job by the PCB whereas those with tainted reputation have been allowed to run the show with their engagement at key positions?

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Ailing Ashraf Tai seeks governmental support

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Grand Master Muhammad Ashraf Tai, the trailblazing martial artist, estimated to have trained and groomed as many as 2.5 athletes, is currently facing health and financial hardships. Laid low by chronic ailments for more than a decade, he has appealed to the government to bail him out with support in cash and in kind. 

Speaking to the media fraternity recently at the Karachi Press Club (KPC), the grandmaster looked visibly upset and heartbroken when narrating the details of his illness he was up against.

“My heart as well as kidneys have been taking battering for so many years which has curtailed my mobility and I am been facing multiple health disorders. Fighting the diseases for so long has taken its toll on my pocket as well as my body. Therefore, I look forward to the federal government and the Sindh government to come my rescue,” he appealed. 

Ashraf Tai disclosed that both his branches of Tai Karate’s Centre, housed at the KGA Gymkhana on M A Jinnah Road and the other one at Korangi, were incurring huge losses because of the rentals and electricity charges which he was unable to afford. 

In order to spare him from further inconvenience and mental torture, he desired patronage and requested the concerned government departments to allot both the centres in his name in view of the services he has rendered to martial arts for over half a century.

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Pakistan’s top cueists gear up for IBSF World Snooker Championship 2025

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The fancied quintet of Shahid Aftab, Muhammad Sajjad, Asjad Iqbal, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Hasnain Akhtar will represent Pakistan in the IBSF World Snooker Championships (Men) 2025, scheduled to be played at Doha, Qatar, from November 3 to 13.

Naved Kapadia, Secretary, Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA), will be accompanying the squad as a delegate. He will also be in action as one of the referees in the mega event. 

The practice session and training camp for the Qatar-bound Pakistani cueists is being held at the Jahangir Khan Sports Complex in Karachi. The trainees could be seen in action from 10 am to 5 pm, gearing up for the upcoming global event. 

The PBSA officials are hopeful that the participating cueists will be successful in winning laurels for the country. They reckon that the selected players have the experience as well as the skillset to bring home more trophies.

Meanwhile, the PBSA has announced that Muhammad Asif has directly qualified for last 48 by virtue of being the defending champion while Asjad Iqbal, who advanced to the last 16 knockout round last year, and Muhammad Hasnain Akhtar, the reigning world U-17 champion, have also directly qualified for last 48. 

Shahid Aftab and Muhammad Sajjad, the other two Pakistani cueists, will be appearing in the qualifying round last 64.

Muhammad Yousuf, it may be recalled, was the first Pakistani to win the World Championship in 1994 while Muhammad Asif won his maiden world crown in 2012.

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PBSA condoles death of its former President

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The officials of the Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association (PBSA), in a special meeting held at their office in Karachi on October 18, paid tribute to its former President, Ali Asghar Valika, who also served as the Chairman and the Patron-in-Chief of the board. 

“Rich tributes were paid to the services of Ali Asgahr Valika to cue sports. His visionary leadership for many years brought accolades to the country with Pakistan becoming world champions. The Asian Championship was also hosted by Pakistan during his tenure,” Zulfiqar Ali Ramzi, President, PBSA, observed. 

“His services were recognized internationally as well, and he served on the board of ACBS as President and IBSF as Vice President. He was giant among his peers and was looked up to by all regional associations as a mentor and adviser,” the PBSA President reckoned. 

“The popularity of snooker today in Pakistan can be contributed to his visionary leadership and his charismatic personality inspired his colleagues and players to excel and achieve,” Zulfiqar Ramzi declared. 

“In his passing away snooker has lost a great servant of the game and whose contribution has left an indelible mark in history of snooker in Pakistan and internationally,” he highlighted. 

The PBSA members offered Fateha and prayed for his soul rest in eternal peace and condoled with members of his family and sports lovers in Pakistan and world over whose lives he had touched. The members recorded that it was an honour for them to have served with him and recalled his memory with love and compassion.

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Yousuf Malik, Mona Khan shine in Chicago Marathon

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s athletes hit headlines at the Chicago World Major Marathon, showcasing not only their athletic talent but also their dedication to representing the country globally. 

Among them was Mona Khan, the only female athlete from the journalist community, running alongside her coach and fellow runner Muhammad Yousuf Malik and nine-year-old little ambassador Keyaan Mustafa Khan, who symbolically ran to strengthen USA-Pakistan friendship. 

This year, these athletes achieved remarkable feats, earning prestigious medals and setting tenuous world records at the London Marathon. 

In a historic achievement, Mona Khan and Yousuf Malik were awarded Guinness World Record certificates and medals, further highlighting their extraordinary accomplishments. 

The runners dedicated their efforts to the leadership of Pakistan, particularly Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, celebrating their guidance and inspiring leadership. 

The event received special recognition from Dr Tariq Bhutt, Chairman of the Chicago-Lahore Sister City Committee, who has been actively promoting Pakistan-US ties through such initiatives. 

The newly appointed Consul General of Pakistan in Chicago, Zaman Mehdi, expressed his delight at meeting the athletes and applauded their efforts to represent Pakistan on the global stage. 

The US authorities also acknowledged the runners’ dedication, highlighting the role of sports in strengthening international friendships. 

Through their strides, these Pakistani athletes demonstrated that passion, perseverance, and national pride can transcend borders, one marathon at a time.

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Sarfraz Nawaz condoles Wazir Mohammad’s death

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s former Test fast bowler, Sarfraz Nawaz, acclaimed as the inventor of reverse swing, has condoled the death Wazir Mohammad, the eldest of the legendary Mohammad brothers, who passed away at the age of 95 in England on October 13. 

“I had known Wazir bhai for a long time. He was a very decent guy, who possessed incredible knowledge about the game of cricket. It was always a pleasure meeting and talking to him,” Sarfraz, who has also relocated in England, remarked in a brief conversation with PNFS. 

“He was talked about as a cricketer of immense value who gave his best for the country in the early days of Pakistan cricket. He may not have scored as many runs in Tests as his three other illustrious brothers, Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq, but he was revered by his contemporaries, including his great captain, Abdul Hafeez Kardar,” Sarfraz recalled. 

Wazir had made his Test debut in the third match of the 1952-53 series against India. He forced his way into the playing eleven at the strength of a match-saving unbeaten 104 in the tour game against West Zone in Ahmedabad. 

His Test record of scoring 801 runs at an average of 27.62 was indeed modest but he derived a great sense of pride for having made vital contributions in many of Pakistan's first Test victories. 

His knock of 42 in the second innings of the Oval Test of 1954 was Pakistan's highest in the closely-fought encounter which became famous by the match-winning spells of Fazal Mahmood. 

His century partnership with Kardar was the highest in Pakistan’s maiden victory over Australia at National Stadium, Karachi in 1956. Similarly, his innings of 189 was also the highest of the match when Pakistan registered first-ever win over the West Indies in 1957-58.

Wazir was the eldest among the Mohammad Brothers, who have played monumental role in Pakistan cricket right from its formative years. Raees did not play Test cricket but Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq represented the country with distinction for a number of years.

Sarfraz played international cricket with the trio of Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq. In fact, he and Mushtaq also played together for the county of Northamptonshire for a long time during summers in England.

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Ali Asghar Valika laid to rest at Noor Bagh Graveyard

By Ehsan Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s distinguished sports administrator and former President of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSA), Ali Asghar Valika, was laid to rest at Noor Bagh Graveyard in Karachi on October 11. Also having served as President of the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) two times, he had passed away at the age of 78, after a prolonged illness, a day earlier. 

His funeral was attended by a large gathering of sports officials, colleagues, and admirers, including the Karachi Club President, Irfan Moten, ex-PBSA President and Karachi Club Secretary, Jawed Karim, former PBSA President, Alamgir Shaikh, former Karachi Gymkhana President Fawad Malik, members of the PBSA Executive Committee, club staff, friends, relatives, and well-wishers. 

"We are grateful to all those, who supported us in the time of grief,” his younger brother Abbas Valika acknowledged. 

Pakistan’s three-time world snooker champion Muhammad Asif expressed deep sorrow at Asghar Valika’s passing, paying tribute to his “tremendous service for the development of snooker across the globe.” Asif described him as a “visionary patron who discovered, promoted, and guided players to reach world-class levels.” 

Condolences also poured in from Pakistan cricket greats Wasim Bari, Asghar Valika’s former schoolmate, and Iqbal Qasim, ex-chief selector and left-arm spinner currently in South Africa, who expressed his thoughts via video link. Both of them recalled lifelong contribution to sports administration and his pivotal role in nurturing international champions such as Muhammad Yousuf and Muhammad Asif. 

Widely regarded as the Father of Pakistan Snooker, Asghar Valika transformed the cue sport from a recreational pastime into a competitive discipline. He served as PBSA President for over two decades from 1988, during which Pakistan hosted multiple Asian and World Snooker Championships, including the historic 33-nation IBSF World Championship in Karachi in 1993, a milestone in the country’s sporting history. 

Under his leadership, Pakistan achieved its first Asian Games Gold Medal in Snooker at Bangkok in 1998 through Shaukat Ali, and several other podium finishes followed in subsequent editions. He also helped secure major sponsorship from Red & White and Jubilee Insurance, ensuring the sport’s financial sustainability and growth for a long time. 

Beyond his administrative acumen, he was a mentor and visionary, credited with introducing Pakistan’s ranking system and bringing televised snooker to national audiences. His efforts expanded the sport from elite clubs to every corner of the country, inspiring generations of young cueists.

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Sports fraternity mourns demise of Asghar Valika

By Ehsan Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s veteran sports administrator and former President of the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Federation (PBSA), Ali Asghar Valika, passed away in Karachi on October 10 after a prolonged illness. He was 78, his younger brother Abbas Valika confirmed. 

Widely regarded as the Father of Pakistan Snooker, Asghar Valika played a pioneering role in transforming snooker from a recreational pastime into one of the country’s most competitive and organised sports. 

He served as the PBSA President for over two decades from 1988 and also held key international offices, including Senior Vice President of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) and President of the Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS). 

Under his leadership, Pakistan successfully hosted multiple Asian and World Snooker Championships, including the landmark 33-nation IBSF World Championship at Karachi in 1993. He was instrumental in securing major sponsorship, notably from Red & White and Jubilee Insurance, which revitalized the sport’s profile nationwide. 

He is also credited for nurturing cueist Mohammad Yousuf, who went on to win the 1994 IBSF World Snooker Championship in Johannesburg, a defining moment in Pakistan’s sporting history. 

A businessman by profession and Managing Director of Valika Industries, Asghar Valika was also associated with early cricket development in Dubai during the 1970s. His passing away marks the end of a golden chapter in Pakistan’s sports administration. He is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.

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