Bangladeshi Tigers: Not ready to roar just yet
It seems they are not quite ready for the big games after all. The cricketing fraternity was quite pleasantly surprised with the Bangladesh resurgence at the Asia Cup. They defeated the current world champions India, former champions Sri Lanka and came quite close to defeating Pakistan – also a former champion – on two occasions. In fact, the final went down to the wire, and was not decided until the last ball. Bangladesh dominated the entire match; they bowled brilliantly and restricted Pakistan to what seemed like a barely adequate score of 236. Had it not been for the heroics of Sarfaraz Ahmed ...
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Pakistan vs India: Silencing the match-fixing rumours
The match-fixing rumours started spreading after India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup match that took place on March 18, 2012. The match was played in its real essence – a typical Pakistan-India match that contained everything: high scores, long partnerships, centuries, nervousness, misfielding, bad shots, huge sixes, all round performance by the top performers of both the sides, two heroes, two villains from both sides, tense captains and a nerve-wracking experience that a match between arch-rivals usually instigates. But still, they say, it was fixed and their reasons are: Cricketing authorities want a Pak-India final, to earn millions of dollars and ...
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84th Academy Awards: Predictions, tweets & snubs
The Oscars are a time when fans, TV anchors, stylists, live bloggers, tweeters and seat-fillers (the lucky people who sit on celeb’s seats while they’re visiting the bathroom or the bar) satellite around A-list stars in the celluloid constellation known as Hollywood. Die-hard viewers host Oscar parties at home while Hollywood’s B, C and D-listers try to attend as many after-parties as they can (since they’re naturally not invited to most awards shows). It’s fun for all, whether you’re watching the show live at the crack of dawn in Pakistan’s time zone (and heading off bleary-eyed to work), or watching the ...
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LUMUN or competitions that turn into a losing game
Two weeks ago, Jinnah International airport was deluged by nervous yet excited parents. “Kya aap ki beti bhi LUMUN ja rahi he?” (is your daughter going to LUMUN too?) they cried as they bumped into each other. School teams kept arriving in jam-packed buses, students streamed through security checks in their uniforms and blazers. They were headed for Lahore University of Management Sciences Model United Nations, an endeavour that consists of night-long research marathons on different countries, eating too much at Hardees, and chilling out at the free concerts. It is also incidentally a convergence of some of the country’s brightest, sharpest ...
Read Full PostJazba just wasn’t enough
Pakistan lost the much-hyped match against India, just as they lost on previous four occasions where they came up against India in any World Cup game. They say history never repeats itself, but it did in this case. However, folly always repeats itself. We made the same mistakes that we always do. Pakistan felt they could go into the game and pull off a win even after fielding like they always do, leaking runs and dropping catches. But one can ride luck just so far. Eventually, reality catches up and the men are separated from the boys. Let’s hope Kamran Akmal is ...
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World Cup 2011: Why do we love to hate India?
Cricket mania has spread like wildfire and everyone wants their team to win. But so far, the South Asians are championing the race tooth and nail. Pakistan is poised to face its rival India in the semi finals and we have made cricket a life and death scenario. Our spirits were high after securing victories against big teams like Australia, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, but a prospective showdown with India has given our excitement a new meaning altogether. We are just not willing to accept defeat. If we were facing any other team in the semi-final instead of ...
Read Full PostWatch out Kenya! We might let you win
We might be looking at the first upset of the World Cup on Tuesday. This is the day that African minnows, Kenya take on former cricket world and T20 champions Pakistan. And no, it won’t be an upset because Kenya is an amazing talent and has the potential to beat any team on their day. I mean, that may or may not be true, but the real reason that an upset is a possibility is because they are playing Pakistan. This is a team that can beat the best in the world, on their day, and lose to the worst ...
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So what if Imran Khan picked India?
I respectfully disagree with Muhammad Khanani’s post “Where is Imran Khan’s patriotism?” in which he criticises former cricketer Imran Khan’s for predicting that the Indian team will gain World Cup victory and stating that Indian cricketer Dhoni was the “best player”. Khan picked India because they seem to be in good form to win the World Cup. Undoubtedly, as Pakistanis we all want our team to win. However, saying that South Africa, Australia or any other country may win based on the team’s recent performances is not wrong. This is not a show of Khan’s indifference towards Pakistan. During the World ...
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World Cup 2011: Time for Pakistan to shine
As we embrace the month of February, cricket fans across the globe wait with bated breath for the 10th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In about 10 days, the greatest cricketing spectacle will hold the attention of cricket frenzied fans. The hands of Pakistanis will collectively be lifted in prayer for the victory of a disenchanted nation with suffering. The boys in green, therefore, carry the hopes of a country – a nation that needs smiles on faces that have only worn tension and tears. The ICC Cricket ...
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Afridi for the win!
I am glad that Pakistan won the series. No surprise there. I am Pakistani; of course I would be happy for my country’s victory. However, there is another reason why I am glad we won today. It is because now, Shahid Afridi will most probably be retained as captain. The lack of trust that the management has shown in the captain of the national team, for me, has been confusing and somewhat frustrating as well. When Pakistan won the Test series under Misbahul Haq, I, although not entirely of the view, felt inclined towards the possibility of Misbah captaining the ...
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