Fakhar, Amir recall iconic CT win
The Desert Vipers' latest season of Straight Up with Vipers kicked off with an engaging episode featuring Pakistani cricket stars Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir. The duo reflected on their unforgettable performances in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, particularly the final against India, which secured Pakistan's historic win.
Fakhar Zaman, who played a crucial role in the final, reminisced about his game-changing century. His knock of 114 runs came after a lucky escape when he was dismissed off a no-ball early in his innings. Reflecting on the moment, Fakhar revealed that he had jokingly wished for such luck before the match, which later turned into reality.
"When I said that, it was just a casual comment during a conversation with my teammates. No one really took it seriously. But when it actually happened, everyone started saying I had seen it in my dreams!" he laughed.
His stellar performance propelled Pakistan to a massive total of 338, laying the foundation for a famous victory.
Mohammad Amir played an equally vital role, delivering one of the most memorable spells in Pakistan's cricket history. The left-arm pacer dismantled India's top order by dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan in quick succession.
"Honestly, that pitch wasn't swinging much. Even in the morning, there wasn't a lot of movement," Amir said. "But I had this feeling that something special was going to happen. When I got Rohit out first, the energy just kept building," he added.
Amir recalled that when Virat Kohli fell, he was almost certain that Pakistan had secured the match.
"The moment Kohli got out, I thought, 'We've won 60% of the game.' It was a surreal feeling." he remarked.
After lifting the trophy, both players were overwhelmed by the celebrations back home. Fakhar recalled struggling to exit the airport due to the massive crowds, while Amir described the joyous scenes in the streets of Karachi.
"I didn't realize the magnitude of what we had achieved until we landed in Pakistan. People came from all over to celebrate with us," said Fakhar.
The Champions Trophy 2017 remains one of Pakistan's greatest cricketing achievements, and both Amir and Fakhar cherish their contributions to the historic win.
Shaheen ready to defend
Pakistan's left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi expressed his determination to successfully defend the prestigious ICC Men's Champions Trophy title, stating he wants to wear the iconic white jacket.
In a video shared by the apex cricketing body, Afridi recalled the national team's historic victory in June 2017 after a one-sided final against arch-rivals India at The Oval.
The left-arm pacer revealed that he was playing Under-19 cricket for Pakistan back then and watched the blockbuster clash on TV.
"I was playing for Pakistan U-19 when we won the Champions Trophy in 2017. I watched that game on TV, and it was a special moment for our country," he stated.
Shaheen Shah Afridi then shared his plans for the upcoming eight-team tournament, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, and hailed experienced pacer Mohammad Amir and top-order batter Fakhar Zaman for their contributions in the final.
"I want us to wear that white coat again after the final this time. I can never forget Fakhar Zaman's innings, which changed the game completely, and Mohammad Amir's spell," he added.
"Everyone contributed to the win, but those performances stand out. I believe it was a team effort, and we need that again. We want to win the title once more and keep the trophy at home."
For the unversed, Zaman's blistering century in the final helped Pakistan amass a massive total of 338/4 before Amir's fierce opening spell dismantled India's strong top order, which eventually resulted in the defending champions being bowled out for a meagre 158.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Should men on screen hide their chest hair?
Are you appalled by the sight of male chest hair? You may not be, but actor Atiqa Odho certainly is — and the Dhoka actor is not shy about expressing her withering views on the subject. "Wear disco jackets if you must, but please do not have undone buttons all the way down so you can show off your chest hair," pleaded Atiqa during a recent appearance on a local talk show during a conversation on the double standards of men and women are subjected to on screen with regards to modesty with their clothing. "I just get so put off when I see men with hairy chests. You can wax it off! I can take you to a salon!" In case any men taking notes had missed the point, the scathing screen veteran reiterated, "If you must have your buttons undone all the way down, please get it all waxed, because hairy chests are a complete put-off." For those still left in suspense about Atiqa's true feelings, she concluded, "It's yuck." Atiqa's comments came in the wake of actor Ali Raza flaunting an unbuttoned shirt in drama serial Dastak, with a full chest of hair on display. Atiqa's definitive verdict vis a vis male body hair and its relative visibility predictably sparked a discussion amongst fans online. "I don't understand why men in Pakistani dramas often have their shirts unbuttoned halfway down," commented a user, evidently in agreement with Atiqa — although the fan did not agree with every point raised by the screen veteran. "Even if the chest is waxed, it still looks cheap." Others, however, were as critical of Atiqa as the latter was of men favouring undone buttons. The logic stands that if women should be free to wear clothing of their choice (see the 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' movement for reference), so should men. "She needs to lower her gaze, period!" wrote one enraged commenter on Instagram. "We cannot have double standards. If men are told to lower their gazes, so should women." Echoing similar sentiments, another user wrote, "Honestly, if women stand up for their right "mera jism meri marzi", then on what basis are these remarks made for men? Waxing for men is a very personal choice and some don't even want to wax." Fans (or not, as the case may be) on Reddit were largely aligned with this criticism of Atiqa's no-holds-barred opinions. "If you don't tolerate body-shaming or age-shaming of women, extend the same towards men. I am not fan of Ali Raza, but this was an unprovoked attack and very distasteful with the way she approached the topic on air."
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
'May their families find strength'
As thick black smoke billowed in the wake of the devastating Air India crash of Thursday afternoon, killing at least 265 people on board and on the ground, a global outpouring of grief and condolences has flooded the internet — with Pakistani celebrities also taking to social media to express their sadness. The London-bound aircraft plummeted from the skies in a residential area 90 seconds after takeoff in Ahmedabad, becoming engulfed in flames as it ploughed a hostel for medical staff from a nearby hospital. One passenger was able to escape from the aircraft door, but the remaining 241 passengers and crew have been confirmed dead, as per the BBC. A distressing video of the aircraft's doomed final final flight has gone viral, jolting netizens into penning prayers from the heart for all those affected by the aviation disaster. Condolences and sorrow Taking to Instagram Stories, A-lister Saba Qamar posted the now infamous video and wrote, "Heartfelt prayers for all the lives lost in the Air India tragedy, may their families find strength in this time of sorrow." In a similar vein but across a black backdrop as a homage to the lives lost, Love Guru star Mahira Khan kept her message succinct, stripped of excess emotion as her words honed in on the sadness engulfing all those whose lives have been forever changed. "Saddened by the crash of Air India. Tragic condolences to all who are grieving such a big loss." Composing a similarly sober message on IG Stories, also amid a plain black background, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum star Fahad Mustafa wrote, "Deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. May the departed souls rest in peace." Fahad's Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum co-star and fellow A-lister Hania Aamir had a similar message of sorrow to share on Stories. Like Fahad and Mahira, Hania, too, opted for a black backdrop as a mark of grief and posted on Thursday, "Deeply saddened by the tragic Air India crash near Ahmedabad today. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. May the victims rest in peace and their families find strength." Actor Maya Khan, too, shared her shock online as she posted a picture of the destroyed aircraft and simply wrote, "Prayers for the departed souls." With understandably little variation in the tributes online that inevitably fill the vacuum left by lives lost in any such catastrophe, Zard Patton Ka Bunn star Sajal Ali also turned to Stories to show her solidarity with all those who left grieving amidst the tragedy. "Extremely heartbreaking news of the air crash today," posted the actor on Instagram on Thursday. Adding a broken heart emoji to sign off her message, Sajal finished, "Praying for the souls lost and strength for their families. May they find peace." A journey unfinished Meanwhile, Kattar Karachi actor Kinza Shah posted a short message underscoring the horror of a flight that would never reach its destination. "Air India tragedy. Some journeys never reach their destination " With the broken heart emoji proving to be the most apt after the horror of Thursday, Kinza continued, "Prayers for the family and the lone survivor." Posting a similar screenshot of the news, Tan Man o Neel actor Nadia Afgan, like so many others, offered prayers for all those who perished and wished strength for those they left behind. "So very tragic," penned Nadia. "Praying for the departed souls. Also praying for the families mourning the victims of the crash, Jafaa star Mawra Hocane wrote of her devastation on Stories. "Devastating news about the Air India plane crash. Countless lives lost," expressed the actor. "Can't imagine the state of their loved ones heartbreaking! Deepest condolences to the affected families. Praying for sabr [patience]." Sadness without borders Actor Armeena Khan, meanwhile, hinted in her post that geopolitical tensions lose their meaning in the face of a disaster claiming so many lives. Posting a screenshot of a news story relating to the crash, Armeena wrote, "As a human being, I'm so sorry this has happened. I never rejoice in death." Finally, model-turned-actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak spun a harrowing, poetic note as a tribute to all those who had died and the loved ones grieving their loss. "Devastated by the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. So many lives lost, dreams shattered mid-air, families forever changed." Painting a haunting picture of the horror the passengers must have felt in their final moments, and the chasm left behind for their loved ones, Saheefa added, "No words feel enough in the face of such pain. Praying for every soul abroad and every loved one left behind. May they rest in peace, and may we never take a single goodbye for granted." Saheefa also had an answer ready for those who questioned her allegiance after in the wake of her empathetic post. "I have nothing against the people of India," maintained Saheefa in a separate post as a reply to someone who questioned why she would support a country banning Pakistani artists. "I deeply mourn the innocent lives lost," continued the actor. "I can be against false propaganda, twisted narratives, and baseless accusations, but it takes someone truly cruel to not grieve the loss of innocent human lives." Saheefa's words, as well as the posts shared by the Pakistani showbiz community, prove that regardless of the military tensions between the neighbouring countries in May, few things unite people more than a single instant that wipes out so many lives.
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Underdogs with a dream
You can hear his enthusiasm and energy in his words upon interacting with Danyal K. Afzal, writer and director of the upcoming Fatima Jinnah series. One may chalk it up to inexperience or the nervousness that often accompanies an ambitious goal one sets upon himself, but you can see his passion for the project he's undertaking. For the last three years, there have been sporadic news and updates regarding the anticipated project. Rumours about possible release dates surface and then die down. Afzal clarified that he and his team prioritises "authenticity over deadlines". He said building historical sets for the production was a massive feat that took a lot of time. "Fatima Jinnah's birthday, her death anniversary, or even Quaid-e-Azam's birthday are all on the table," according to Afzal but he wants to focus on the post-production first and finish the project. However, he's grateful for the attention the series has been receiving. "To this day, Partition and its key figures, especially Fatima Jinnah, hold a deeply emotional place in the conscience of our people." It's evident the young filmmaker is quite fascinated by Pakistani history. In fact, he already has the next few historical series in the works. As for Fatima Jinnah, Afzal's interest in the figure began during his studies and once he was into it, there was no going back. "Here was a woman who gave up everything to stand beside her brother, the only guardian figure in her life. The more I researched, the more captivated I became by her choices, her stances, and her quiet yet fierce resistance," said Afzal. The series is divided into six volumes spread over three seasons. The director shared that the first volume "will barely scratch the surface of her legend", but he "cannot wait to introduce this version of Fatima Jinnah to Pakistan; a version often left out of textbooks." Sajal or Sundas? Early on, Sajal Ali was attached to the project. However, she left in 2023, leading Sundas Shaheen-Farhan to replace her. Afzal says Sajal "brought an energy and poise to the project that helped set the tone" for what they were building but emphasised that there's no drama to unravel behind her leaving the project. "We [series team as well as Sajal] both felt that the character's current arc wasn't aligning with her creative direction. And we respected that wholeheartedly. We parted ways on the best of terms. To us, she'll always be one of our Fatima Jinnahs forever!" Not a lot is known about Sundas, who will be reprising the role moving forth, and the director is thrilled about it. "I love the mystery. I want the world to meet her as Fatima Jinnah; not through hashtags and press articles, but through her performance. Once she's launched, I promise you she'll have people in awe." Writing process While Afzal wrote all six volumes during his college days, the screenplay was developed two years ago. He collaborated with a team of researchers, art directors and professors who "understood women's leadership from that era". "To understand Fatima, you have to understand the people around her. Especially the women. Especially Bombay. Our Volume 1 is rooted in Bombay," said the director, describing the titular character as a "true Bombay girl". The series has an ensemble of 58+ central characters, each with their own timeline that weaves into Fatima's. "Our history barely remembers Ruttie Petit, Jinnah's wife and Fatima's sister-in-law, and the first woman to lead a protest beside Jinnah after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. She is one of our founders barely mentioned in any of our textbooks. While the onscreen ensemble is big enough, there's an even bigger pool behind the cameras making it all come to life. Afzal credits his team for being the backbone of the project and addresses some particular concerns. "None of us came from the traditional TV industry or had built sets this massive before. We were new and ambitious. We were mocked for being inexperienced. But we brought the quality people didn't expect from first-timers. We stood by our vision when it would've been easier to give up. And today, we stand proud, not just for surviving the pressure; but for thriving through it." He says the labour of love is for "our awaam, our history, and for every underdog team with a dream." Visuals and production Head of Production Design Raza Shah, a university professor who one day "realised he couldn't play that role anymore", said working on the project "felt like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, trying to find the Emerald City without her magical slippers and with no golden path to follow. But soon, we felt rescued. Our director had a vision for all of us." Shah, with his team, built historical sets across 92 locations, but said it wasn't just about creating sets but also "educating ourselves, diving diving into lost chapters of South Asian anthropology and history, then emerging with insights into the architecture, infrastructure, geography, climate, textile traditions, visual language, and color palette of that time." To supplement the limited digitised, monochromatic records of the era and source the right production materials, they studied paintings from the era, analysed vintage textiles and jewellery patterns, and visited architectural landmarks for visual references. "We didn't want our sets to resemble museum displays; we wanted them to feel lived-in and believable," said Shah. Salman Aslam stepped in as the cinematographer to capture the sets in a way that was authentic to the story. He said the director is "allergic to wooden sets and CGI" so they shot everything on location, which means being more mindful of the sites with no green screen. "Styles, colours, even interior lights behave differently depending on the time period. We aimed for visuals that today's audience could connect with, while still being true to the textures and limitations of that era," said Aslam, noting he wanted to keep it all "era-accurate". Aslam points out how all visuals should be dictated by the script. "They need to carry meaning," and his job was to take those emotions and express them visually. The key direction for him was to avoid making it look like a typical TV drama, hence no clean solos. With the cinematographer's dislike of the cliched sepia tone to achieve the "forced vintage tone" in period films, he believes he managed to "find that sweet spot between realism and visual appeal" to create images that feel real as well as cinematic.
