The manicured emerald pitch at Lord’s in London, where Afghanistan played for the first time ever Tuesday, is a world away from the border refugee camps where the country found its love for cricket. In dusty Pakistani camps like Khurasan, young barefoot cricketers have no pitch, no kit, no wickets, no helmets, no gloves and … Read more
Pakistan’s star fast bowler Mohammad Amir was promoted into the country’s top category Wednesday following his brilliant Champions Trophy performance, just 19 months since returning to international cricket after a five-year spot-fixing ban. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shuffled several players while issuing new lists of contracts for national duty, given on the basis of … Read more
Former Pakistan batsman Ramiz Raja has urged the International Cricket Council to set aside a two-month window solely for Test matches in a bid to preserve the longest form of the game. While crowds for Tests in countries such as England remain strong, Raja, a member of the influential MCC world cricket committee, fears interest … Read more
Pakistan Tuesday rewarded Sarfraz Ahmed with the country’s Test captaincy, a fortnight after he led the national team to an elusive Champions Trophy title in England. Underdogs Pakistan trounced India by a record 180-run margin in the final in London on June 18 to lift the Champions Trophy, to the shock and ecstasy of the … Read more
Pakistan will seek to bring in a replacement for Wahab Riaz after the fast bowler was ruled out Monday of the remainder of the Champions Trophy with an ankle injury. The 31-year-old left-arm quick suffered the setback while bowling during Pakistan’s crushing 124-run defeat by title-holders India at Edgbaston on Sunday in what was the … Read more
Afghanistan have cancelled proposed home and away cricket fixtures with Pakistan after a deadly bomb attack blamed by the country’s intelligence agency on militants allegedly backed by Islamabad. Pakistan were set to play their first Twenty20 match in Kabul later this year in what was seen as an opportunity for the neighbours to ease tensions … Read more
Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf on Monday told a tribunal hearing spot-fixing charges against Sharjeel Khan that the batsman did not deliberately play two dot balls during a Pakistan Super League match. The allegation relates to a match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai in February, in which Sharjeel scored a single off … Read more
India on Monday ruled out any cricket series against Pakistan until “cross-border terrorism” stops. The Indian and Pakistani cricket boards are scheduled to meet in Dubai on Monday to discuss a possible bilateral series. And the two countries play each other at the Champions Trophy in England on June 4. But they have not played … Read more
Islamabad United coach Dean Jones on Wednesday testified at a tribunal hearing spot-fixing charges against Sharjeel Khan, saying two dot balls played by the batsman during a Pakistan Super League match were not suspicious from a cricketing perspective. The allegation relates to a match played between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi held in Dubai in … Read more
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday said it had seized bat grips given to Khalid Latif by a bookmaker which the Islamabad United opener was allegedly supposed to use to indicate he would participate in a spot-fix. The 31-year-old batsman stands accused of attempting to spot-fix, accepting an offer by a bookmaker which he did … Read more
Britain’s National Crime Agency provided the initial intelligence that helped uncover a major spot-fixing scandal in the Pakistan Super League, a leading official from world cricket’s governing body said Thursday. Sir Ronnie Flanagan, head of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption and safety unit (ACSU) was speaking to reporters in Lahore after testifying in a case … Read more
A Pakistan tribunal Monday started hearings into spot-fixing charges against five cricketers who could face life bans if found guilty. The tribunal convened by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is headed by Justice Asghar Haider. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Bari and ex-PCB chairman Tauqir Zia are also members. Prosecutors played a tape in which opening … Read more
The Pakistan cricket board’s anti-corruption unit on Monday said it had summoned Mohammad Nawaz in connection with a spot-fixing scandal during the country’s Twenty20 league earlier this year. Nawaz, 23, is the sixth player named in the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the Pakistan Super League held in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Fast bowler Mohammad Irfan … Read more
Pakistan cricket charged former Test batsman Nasir Jamshed on Tuesday with obstructing and failing to cooperate in an investigation into a spot-fixing case which rocked their Twenty20 league. Jamshed, 27, is the fifth player charged in the scandal which saw a one-year ban — six months suspended — and a fine meted out to fast … Read more
Pakistan batsman Khalid Latif will contest spot-fixing charges against him, his lawyer said Friday, in an ongoing scandal which has tainted Pakistani cricket and threatened years of work to clean up the country’s image. The 31-year-old is one of five players under investigation in the case, which surfaced during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) held … Read more
A top Pakistan cricket official on Thursday defended a one-year ban for fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, saying there will be zero tolerance on corruption in the sport. Irfan, 34, is the first casualty of the spot-fixing case which surfaced during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) held in February-March this year. Four other players — Sharjeel … Read more
Irfan last appeared for Pakistan in an ODI against England at Headingley in September 2016 Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has been banned for a year by the Pakistan Cricket Board for twice failing to report approaches by bookmakers linked to spot-fixing. The 7ft 1in bowler was one of three players suspended following an anti-corruption … Read more
Pakistan have suspended fast bowler Mohammad Irfan for one year and fined him $1,000 after he admitted failing to report approaches by bookmakers linked to spot-fixing, cricket authorities said Wednesday. The 34-year-old said he had not spoken out at the time because he was under mental stress following the death of his parents. “I accept … Read more
Pakistan’s head coach Mickey Arthur Tuesday said he felt “gutted” over a fresh alleged spot-fixing scandal that has engulfed his team, adding any players found guilty only had themselves to blame. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has provisionally suspended Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed on charges linked to spot-fixing … Read more
Pakistan’s Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Sunday called for life bans on anyone found guilty of fixing, adding that an investigation into five players threatened years of work to clean up the country’s image. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has provisionally suspended Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed on charges linked … Read more