Thousands take to social media to condole lonely Qamar Ahmed’s demise

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

There is hardly element of surprise at watching thousands of people from different walks of life to take to social media to express their condolences immediately after learning about the death of veteran cricket journalist, Qamar Ahmed, at Karachi on June 18 because it has become more of a fashion these days to avail such opportunities for self-projection. 

Only a handful of persons among the self-proclaimed mourners seem to be aware, however, about the loneliness the man had endured at the tail end of his life. This is yet another unhealthy trend or a new normal whereby the deceased persons are showered with unstinted praise after their departure after being ignored in lifetime. 

Iqbal Saleh Muhammad, Managing Director, Paramount Books, to my knowledge, was the closest friend of Qamar Ahmed in the final phase of his life as they kept in touch on a regular basis despite their preoccupations.Starting with a traditional author-publisher relationship in 2019, it had turned into a strong bonding over the last few years. 

Iqbal Bhai, as he is affectionately known in the circle of his friends and associates, was among the very few persons whom Qamar Ahmed revered in the truest sense of the word. As a matter of fact, both of them held each other in very high esteem. 

“I am obviously feeling heartbroken, having just lost a genuine friend. He was gem of a person, whom I found extremely caring and compassionate. In my book, he was a man of principles,” Iqbal Bhai remarked in choked voice during a brief chat with PNFS. 

“Yes, it is true that we had come across each other when he was searching for a publisher to bring out his autobiography. I had heard his name for a long time because of his cricket reporting but we started meeting only when he came to me with the manuscript. Sharing immense mutual respect for each other, we became personal friends rather quickly and now he has left this mortal world which has saddened all of us,” he observed. 

“I had also spoken to him a day before his death and he was still in high spirits as ever, having been discharged from the hospital. There was no despondency of any kind which could suggest that this was going to be our last conversation,” Iqbal Bhai added. 

Riaz Babar Khan, a London-based intellectual, who broke the news about the death of Qamar Ahmed, was also saddened and grieved. “Qamar Bhai was basically a happy-go-lucky kind of person who preferred to enjoy life after work in the company of his friends. I have fond memories of having shared long sessions with him whenever he returned to London,” he recalled while talking briefly to PNFS. 

“He was a thoroughbred professional, who travelled to various continents for the coverage of cricket matches, from England to Australia and New Zealand, and from Pakistan to the West Indies. He had impeccable knowledge about the game and he was regarded very highly in the media fraternity,” Riaz Babar declared.

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Radical, not cosmetic, changes needed to revive Pakistan cricket

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The ongoing cosmetic surgery in the Pakistan cricket set-up will hardly bring about any significant change. No matter whether they dismantle the selection committee, replace the coaching staff or remove the captain, it will serve little or no purpose. 

Complete overhauling of the system in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is the need of the hour, if the country has to restore the position it occupied in the past. 

Once the superpowers of the game, now Pakistan’s team has been languishing among the wooden spoonists in the recent past. It may be fair to say that the Pakistan cricket is at the lowest ebb at the moment. The team can lose to every Tom, Dick and Harry in any of the three formats. 

The consistency with which the national outfit has been blown away is mind-boggling to say the least. Therefore, mere change of personnel is not going to pay any dividends. Total revamping is required if Pakistan desires to regain the lost glories. 

Despite his preoccupations as the Home Minister, the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Raza Naqvi, must squeeze time for taking some bold decisions to arrest the decline. 

Instead of simply making a few changes in his team of advisors, he must go back to the drawing board to chalk out the plans for the revival of Pakistan cricket. He deserves an honest and dedicated team of professionals to execute his policies. 

Similarly, the PCB boss should refrain from making so many changes in the contract system because this is not the root-cause of the decline. He should concentrate on the areas which are going to strengthen the infrastructure to ensure top-class performance. 

Going back to the basics, the PCB should revive club cricket besides facilitating school and college cricket. We must not ignore the fact that the nurseries must be allowed to flourish at all times. 

Then, the PCB should reintroduce two-day matches at the Under-17 level and three-day fixtures at the Under-19 level to let the youngsters learn and practice the art of playing longer format of the game. The batsmen should be taught and encouraged to bat with proper technique for building their innings. It is very important for the batsmen to be well versed in playing big innings. 

Additionally, the pitches in the first-class tournaments should be batting friendly ones where batsmen are able to play long innings. The grounds for national events should be having all the desired facilities which are found in international matches. 

The first-class matches should be of four-day duration whereby allowing the batsmen as well as the bowlers full opportunity to demonstrate their respective skills. 

We do have enormous amount of raw talent in the country but there are not the right kind of environment to let them graduate to the next level with confidence. 

The PCB must take these concrete measures for the revival of Pakistan cricket and the focus should be on improving the infrastructure for domestic tournaments, particularly the first-class events. These are the basic necessities which cannot be avoided if we have to stay competitive.

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Sufyan Moqeem, Babar Azam run away with top honours in PSL-11

By Ehsan Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The duo Sufyan Moqeem and Babar Azam played the dominant role with the ball and the bat respectively to power Peshawar Zalmi to title triumph in the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) which concluded at the Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on May 3. They bagged the top individual awards. 

Left-arm wrist spinner Sufyan was declared Player of the Tournament as well as the Best Bowl for his rich haul of 22 wickets while Babar was adjudged as the Best Batsman for his mammoth aggregate of 588 runs. 

Their teammates Kusal Mendis won the award for the Best Wicketkeeper of the tournament, having scored 550 runs besides collecting 8 dismissals behind the stumps, while Farhan Yousuf was declared the Best Fielder for taking 10 catches during the tournament. 

Aaron Hardie, also from Peshawar Zalmi, earned Player of the Match award in the final to ensure that their team annexed the trophy after a gap of nine years. 

Islamabad United’s Shadab Khan was adjudged All-rounder of the Tournament for snatching 17 wickets and scoring 173 runs while Hyderabad Kingsmen’s fiery speedster Hunain Shah won the Emerging Player of the Tournament. 

The Spirit of Cricket Award went to debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen, who ended runners-up in the tournament among a record number of eight participants.

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Hardie’s all-round excellence enables Peshawar Zalmi to recapture PSL crown after nine years

By Ehsan Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Aaron Hardie produced a sensational match-winning all-round show as Peshawar Zalmi ended a nine-year wait to reclaim the HBL PSL title with a five-wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final at the Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on May 3. 

The versatile Australian all-rounder claimed four wickets for 27 runs before hitting an unbeaten 56 off 38 balls with nine fours as Peshawar chased down the modest target of 130 in 15.2 overs before a 32,000-strong crowd. 

Walking in at 40 for four, Hardie steadied the chase with Muhammad Samad in an 85-run stand off 64 balls for the fifth wicket. Samad fell for 48 off 34 balls, hitting four sixes and three fours before getting caught at the boundary off Mohammad Ali. 

Chasing 130, Peshawar had slumped to 40 for four after a fiery opening burst from Ali. He removed Mohammad Haris before getting the prized scalp of Babar Azam first ball. Hunain Shah, Hyderabad’s hero in the Eliminator, kept his team in the hunt by accounting for the dangerous Kusal Mendis while Michael Bracewell edged Akif Javed to keeper Usman. 

Ali finished with the figures of three for 38 and but his effort was not enough to prevent in the inevitable. It, however, made sure that Peshawar did not scamper home without some anxious moments even in pursuit of a small target. 

Earlier, Hyderabad lost their way after a brisk start. They had raced to 69 for two in the powerplay before collapsing soon afterwards from 71 for two to 73 for six, losing four wickets for two runs in a matter of nine balls. 

Maaz Sadaqat struck a six and four before holing out to Abdul Samad off Mohammad Basit for 11. Skipper Marnus Labuschagne made 20 off 12 before edging Basit behind. Irfan Niazi was run out by Bracewell for 1, Glenn Maxwell fell first ball to Nahid Rana, and Kusal Perera was run out for 9. 

Saim Ayub top-scored with 54 off 50 balls, which remained his only fifty of the tournament. Hardie (4-27) and Nahid (2-22) were chiefly responsible for bowling Hyderabad out for a paltry 129 in 18 overs. 

The Peshawar captain, Babar Azam, received the glittering trophy from the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, with handsome purse of PKR 140 million while the Hyderabad captain, Marnus Labuschagne, collected a cash purse of PKR 86 million with the runners-up trophy.

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Hunain’s sensational last over propels debutants Hyderabad into PSL final; eliminates Islamabad

By Ehsan Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Paceman Hunain Shah delivered a sensational last over, while defending just six off as many balls, to lead Hyderabad Kingsmen to a most dramatic two-run victory over Islamabad United in the Eliminator-2 of the HBL PSL-11 final in front of a packed Qaddafi Stadium crowd on May 1. 

Making their maiden appearance in the PSL, Hyderabad Kingsmen have already created a history of sorts by going all the way to the final. They will now take on Peshawar Zalmi in the title-clash at the same venue on May 3. 

As anticipated, the encounter between Hyderabad Kingsmen and Islamabad United went to the wire. But not many people expected Hyderabad to win the game when Islamabad were just a stroke away from victory at the start of the final over. 

Defending six in the 20th over, Hunain held his nerve with dot, 1, dot, wicket, 1, 1lb to restrict Chris Green and Imad Wasim to three runs which was incredible to say the least as Islamabad were left stranded at 184 for seven while chasing 187. 

It turned out to be Hnain’s night. He became the hero after producing six tight deliveries on a trot and none of them could be connected by the batters in the desired manner. Islamabad lost the game which had seemed in their pocket. 

Earlier, Hyderabad recovered from 85 for four to post 186 for five after being sent in. Usman anchored the innings with an unbeaten 61 off 39 balls, hitting eight fours. He added 101 off 48 balls for the fifth wicket with Kusal Perera, who smashed 37 off 21. 

Hyderabad had slipped to 87 for three after Maaz Sadaqat fell for a duck to Richard Gleeson. Saim Ayub counterattacked with 38 off 27 balls, while skipper Marnus Labuschagne made 39. 

Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim got the prized scalps of Glenn Maxwell and Labuschagne in three balls. 

Mark Chapman’s 43 off 26 balls put Islamabad’s nose ahead while useful contributions from Devon Conway (30 off 22 balls), Haider Ali (31 off 16 balls) and Shadab Khan (22 off 24 balls) kept them in hunt. Chris Green (21 off nine balls) and Faheem Ashraf (19 off 11 balls) almost took them over the line until denied in the most dramatic final overs in memory.

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Return of spectators brightens PSL playoffs

By Ehsan Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fulfilled its promise of allowing the spectators to witness all the four playoff matches of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). 

The entire league stage the PSL-11 was played behind closed doors in line with the government’s fuel conservation measures due to the West Asia crisis. It was also decided to limit the event only to Karachi and Lahore, whereas six cities were chosen to host it originally. 

The Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United at the National Stadium, Karachi, on April 28 witnessed the return of the crowd and they brightened the proceedings with their active engagement in a game where they got to see a masterclass from Babar Azam. 

It was it the fitness of things that Babar, easily the greatest batsman of the country of his generation, produced one of his best innings to power his team Peshawar Zalmi into the final, with Islamabad now relegated to play one of the Eliminators. 

The action has now moved to Lahore where Multan Sultans and Hyderabad Kingsmen will be the two combatants in the Eliminator 1 on April 29 while their winners will be entitled to play Islamabad in the Eliminator 2 on May 1. 

The curtain will fall to the PSL-11 with the final at the Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on May 3. Peshawar Zalmi has already qualified for the title-clash while the winners of the Eliminator 2 will be the other finalists.

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Classy Babar’s delights buzzing crowd, takes Peshawar to PSL final

By Ehsan Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Babar Azam, under fire for below par strike rate in the shortest format of the game, dispelled the impression of having lost his top form with a sizzling century which put his team, Peshawar Zalmi, into the final of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as they overwhelmed Islamabad United by 70 runs in the qualifier at the National Stadium, Karachi, under floodlights, on April 28. 

The former Pakistan captain smashed 103 off only 59 balls, treating the returning crowd to an exhibition of classy strokes. His blistering knock lifted Peshawar to a respectable 221 for seven, after being sent in to bat by Shadab Khan. 

Babar reached his 13th T20 hundred in style, launching paceman Richard Gleeson for a straight six to the cheers of a near-capacity crowd, who had braved massive hardships in securing tickets in sweltering heat before making their way into the stadium. 

Peshawar got off a flyer in the powerplay with Babar and his opening partner, Muhammad Haris, adding 72 runs in the first six overs. Wicketkeeper Haris smashed 16-ball 35 with the held of two sixes and five fours. 

The momentum was sustained by Kusal Mendis, who contributed 41 off 26 runs, with Babar going great guns at the other end. A mini-collapse saw Peshawar struggling at 164 for four after being in complete command at 156 for one little while earlier. 

The leg-spin of Shadab pulled it back for Islamabad United but it was going to be Babar’s night. He duly completed his century before perishing in the penultimate over. His knock allowed Peshawar Zalmi to post an emphatic total of 221 in the allotted overs. 

Openers Sameer Minhas (44 off 23 balls) and Devon Conway (20 off 14 balls) allowed Islamabad United to score 56 runs in the first five overs. But the plot was lost after eight overs which saw them slump to 113 for seven from 81 for one. 

Medium-pacer Aaron Hardie returned the figures of 3-24 in four tight overs with Basit Ali (2-19) and Sufyan Muqeem (2-25) also delivering tidy spells as Islamabad was bowled out for 151 in 18.2 overs.

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Rawalpindiz finally open account in PSL in ninth attempt

By Ehsan Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

After having endured eight defeats on a trot, debutants Rawalpindiz finally registered their maiden win, overcoming former champions Islamabad United by six wickets in the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on April 23. 

In what turned out to be a lacklustre and low-scoring encounter at the National Stadium, Karachi, skipper Mohammad Rizwan led the successful run-chase for Rawalpindiz with 45 while Kamran Ghulam and Daryl Mitchell sustained the momentum with their knocks of 42 and 35 respectively. 

The enterprising Mitchell remained unbeaten on 32 off 25 balls, hitting two fours and a six. It was Dian Forrester, however, who struck Mohammad Hasnain for the winning boundary, finishing 13 not out. 

Captain Rizwan’s 45 came off 38 balls and it included five fours and a six, while Kamran Ghulam’s 42 off 31 balls contained five fours and a six. The pair, in control of the proceedings, added 78 runs in 56 balls for the second wicket after Abdullah Fazal was dismissed for a first-ball duck. 

Earlier, the Kiwi pair of Devon Conway and Mark Chapman added 49 runs for the fourth wicket after Islamabad United had slumped to 30 for three at the start of the seventh over. 

Opener Sameer Minhas fell for six, while Muhammad Faiq (5) and Shadab Khan (1) followed in quick succession. Conway top-scored with 40 off 33 balls, including three fours and two sixes, while Chapman made 23 off 18 balls with a four and a six. 

The decision of the Rawalpindiz captain, Rizwan, to insert the opponents into bat, after calling correctly, paid rich dividends as his bowlers kept chipping in with wickets regularly to prevent the Islamabad United batsmen from freeing their arms. 

Mohammad Amir, Saad Masood and Dian Forrester chipped in with two wickets each while Naseem Shah, Darryl Mitchell and Asif Afridi were also among the wicket-takers to send the Islamabad United outfit tumbling to 137 all out on the last ball of their innings.

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