Tue, 21-Oct-2025

PCB Mulls Split Captaincy in Upcoming Key Meeting

PCB Mulls Split Captaincy in Upcoming Key Meeting

Lahore meet after World Cup exit. Ashraf consults players, Misbah-ul-Haq, and seeks Hafeez’s feedback. Discusses changes, legal matters, Langer, and timing for captaincy adjustments before Australia tour. In the aftermath of Pakistan’s dismal performance in the ICC World Cup 2023, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has scheduled a significant meeting at its headquarters in Lahore … Read more

PM Shahbaz Sharif-led gov to revive departmental sports

shahbaz sharif

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has promised to address the concerns of athletes who have lost their jobs as a result of departmental sports section closures, The News reported. According to reports, the issue was taken into account after Sindh local government minister Nasir Hussain Shah requested PM Shehbaz to revive departmental cricket. Shah said that … Read more

Pak vs Aus: ‘If the spinner is going to look at the pitch and then bowl, what is the point of being a spinner then?,’ says Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

LAHORE: Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan’s top-ranked off-spinner, believes that docile surfaces are not only to blame for drawn Test matches, but also for the bowlers’ inability to pick 20 wickets, particularly spinners. Spinners, according to Ajmal, must generate opportunities regardless of pitch conditions and learn to execute regardless of the surface. “If the spinner is going … Read more

Muhammad Hafeez’s “memorable career” praised by cricket community and fans, who wish him “happy retirement”

Mohammad Hafeez

KARACHI: After quitting from Test cricket in 2018, former Pakistan Test captain Muhammad Hafeez has chosen to retire from international cricket. Hafeez played 55 Tests, 218 ODIs, and 119 T20s for Pakistan throughout his 18-year career. He’s also appeared in 210 first-class games. In all three formats of the game, the all-rounder captained the national … Read more

Saeed Ajmal: Ravichandran Ashwin Kept Away From Cricket For 6 Months To Save Him From Ban

Saeed Ajmal: Ravichandran Ashwin Kept Away From Cricket For 6 Months To Save Him From Ban

Saeed Ajmal Former Pakistan spinner alleged that Ravichandran Ashwin was kept away from international cricket for six months to protect him from a ban.

Saeed Ajmal claimed that Ravichandran Ashwin was kept away from international cricket for six months so that the International Cricket Council (ICC) would not ban him for suspect bowling action and he work on correcting it.

He, who himself had faced a ban after the ICC had deemed his action illegal, said that while batsmen and fast bowlers have some rules in their favor, spinners have been hung out to dry, as he criticized the strict 15 degrees arm bending rule.

He said, “You changed all these rules and regulations without asking anyone. I was playing cricket for the last eight years. All those rules were for me. That’s it,”

He added, “During that period, Ravichandran was out from cricket for six months. Why is that? So you can work on him and your bowler doesn’t get banned,”

He concluded, “They don’t care if a Pakistan bowler gets banned. They only care about money,”

Recently, Ravichandran denied media reports that ‘he had asked for ICC to relax the 15-degree rule to help bowl the “doosra”.’

His clarification came as some media reports cited the off-spinner’s YouTube channel and quoted him as wanting the apex cricket body to relax the rule.

Taking to Twitter, he cited an article and replied: “Really?? Pls, don’t carry the wrong stuff!! I will never say such a thing.”

In another tweet, he said: “Wrong wrong wrong!! My channel is done for all the right reasons and audience to know cricket better. If you can’t get such basic stuff right in translation, pls don’t carry such poor news.”

 

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Saeed Ajmal: ‘They don’t care if a Pakistan bowler will get banned’

Saeed Ajmal: ‘They don’t care if a Pakistan bowler will get banned’

Saeed Ajmal, who has been banned multiple times by International Cricket Council (ICC) for his bowling action, has alleged that Ravichandran Ashwin avoided being punished despite having similar issues.

Saeed, who had prolific returns in the early years of his international career, went through a rough second half after being called for quitting by the ICC.

The Pakistan spinner was reported for the illegal bend in his elbow twice in his career. After being called for quitting during the 2008 Asia Cup, Saeed took remedial action and cleared the tests soon after, and resumed bowling to have a prolific few years.

The second time around, in 2014, landed a telling blow for Saeed as he was banned from bowling in all international cricket by the ICC in 2015. He changed his action to return later that year but was never as effective a bowler. He retired two years later but has now claimed that the ICC was harsh on him while being lenient to Ashwin.

In an interview, Saeed said, “You changed all these rules and regulations without asking anyone,”

He told, “I was playing cricket for the last eight years. All those rules were for me. That’s it. During that period, Ashwin was out from cricket for six months. Why is that? So you can work on him and your bowler doesn’t get banned. They don’t care if a Pakistan bowler gets banned. They only care about money.”

This isn’t the first time he has lashed out at the governing body. Last year, in a YouTube video, he suggested that the ICC had made him a scapegoat.

He said, “The test in 2009 and 2014 was the same but the only difference was they had removed the medical conditions which they considered in 2009,”

He added, “When Muralitharan left cricket then ICC thought there is this guy Saeed Ajmal and he is from Pakistan and they can’t do anything against our decision.”

There have been suggestions that he is confused about the differences between his two tests. According to international media, Saeed was allowed to continue bowling in 2009 because his elbow only straightened by eight degrees, despite having a 23.5-degree bend in his elbow when bowling. In 2014, it was found that all his deliveries exceeded the allowed maximum of straightening, which is 15 degrees. He was one of at least six bowlers cited around 2014.

 

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Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah still trying to prove their mettle: Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Former cricketer Saeed Ajmal believes that Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah are not eligible to play Test cricket together, as they do not have experience in the longest format. While giving an interview Saeed said, “They are young and are still trying to prove their mettle. You need to go through the tough phase in … Read more