Latest news with #Ashraf
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Faheem slams Mirpur pitch
Faheem Ashraf's maiden T20I half-century went in vain as Pakistan suffered an eight-run defeat in the second T20I against Bangladesh. Photo: AFP Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has voiced concerns over the pitch conditions at the Shere Bangla Stadium, attributing the challenging surface to hot weather and recent rainfall after Pakistan's defeat in the second T20I against Bangladesh on Tuesday. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashraf drew comparisons between the current surfaces and those seen during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). "You mentioned the BPL and the current matches — the BPL takes place in December-January, so the weather is cold during that time, whereas now the weather is hot. So the pitches you're seeing now are totally different. At that time, there wasn't as much spin or grip, and the pace wasn't coming through like this," Ashraf remarked. Ashraf also emphasised how changing weather and ground conditions have impacted surface behaviour. He elaborated that while BPL pitches gradually improve for batting, the current series is unfolding on tracks that remain inconsistent in nature. "Early on in those matches, there's usually a bit of grass, so the initial games can be slightly challenging, but later the pitches become good for batting. However, that's not the case in this series because the surface is becoming hard, yet underneath it still feels soft," he said. The 31-year-old also revealed insights shared by the ground staff. "We spoke with the groundsmen as well, and they said maybe due to the rains, the pitches haven't been prepared in the usual way," he revealed. "But if you compare it with the BPL, there's a big difference. I played last year and this year as well — the pitches in the BPL are much better compared to the ones we're playing on now," he concluded. Pak slip in rankings Pakistani cricketers have experienced a significant decline in the latest ICC T20I rankings, following inconsistent performances in the ongoing three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Mirpur, where the national team has lost the first two encounters. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris has fallen 20 places, now sitting at 50th with 514 rating points. Out-of-form opener Saim Ayub dropped three spots to 64th, while top-order batter Hassan Nawaz saw a sharp decline, slipping 22 positions to 68th. Even players not part of the current squad, such as star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, have not been spared, with both dropping one place to 13th and 14th respectively. Fakhar Zaman, who showed discipline in his batting across consecutive matches against Bangladesh, rose eight spots to 79th with 426 rating points. White-ball captain Usman Khan, who struggled with the bat and managed only nine runs off 23 deliveries in the second T20I, dropped 18 places to 93rd with 396 points. Australia's Travis Head continues to lead the T20I batting rankings, followed by India's Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma in second and third place, respectively. In the bowling rankings, pacer Abbas Afridi slipped two places to 22nd with 608 rating points, while Haris Rauf fell four spots to 24th with 593 points. Left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi, currently not part of the T20I squad, also dropped two positions to 36th with 591 points. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed showed improvement, climbing 12 places to 49th with 499 points. Vice-captain Shadab Khan fell four spots, landing at 65th in the latest update. New Zealand's Jacob Duffy retained his number one position in the T20I bowling rankings, followed by England's Adil Rashid and India's Varun Chakaravarthy in second and third place, respectively.
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Bangladesh take second T20I for first series win over Pakistan
Ashraf hit an aggressive 32-ball 51 while debutant Daniyal smashed an 11-ball 17 but holed out off the second ball of the final over as Pakistan were all out for 125 in their chase of 134 to win in Dhaka. Earlier, Jaker Ali struck a 48-ball 55 as Bangladesh -- sent in to bat -- were bowled out for 133 in 20 overs, with Salman Mirza taking 2-17 and Daniyal close behind on 2-23. Left-arm Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam picked up his best T20I figures of 3-17 on a slow-paced Mirpur pitch as Pakistan lost their first five wickets for just 15 runs by the fifth over. Ashraf cracked four sixes and as many boundaries to raise hopes of a comeback win, but spinner Rishad Hossain bowled him in the penultimate over. Ashraf and Abbas Afridi, who scored a 13-ball 19, had revived the innings from 47-7 with a 41-run stand, but Bangladesh had the last laugh. Bangladesh won the first match at the same venue by seven wickets and took an unassailable 2-0 lead with the final match on Thursday, also in Dhaka. This was Bangladesh's first T20I series win over Pakistan in four tries. Pakistan lost opener Saim Ayub to a run out for one in the first over before Islam dismissed Fakhar Zaman (8) and Mohammad Haris (0) to hit Pakistan hard at the top. Bangladesh skipper Litton Das praised a team effort. "It's wonderful to win back-to-back series," said Litton, who also led the team to a 2-1 T20I series in Sri Lanka last week. "This shows good improvement in our standards." Pakistan captain Salman Agha rued his side's batting lapses. "We thought 134 would be gettable but we lost too many wickets early on and that's something we must address quickly," said Agha. Earlier, Jaker smashed five sixes and a boundary for his third T20I half century. Bangladesh had lost four wickets for 28 by the sixth over before Jaker and Mahedi Hasan revived the innings with a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket. Mahedi scored a 25-ball 33 with two sixes and as many boundaries.
Scroll.in
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Interview: ‘Feminist Fathima' is a ‘challenge to people who don't want to change with the times'
Fathima knows her place in her orthodox household. When in the presence of her husband Ashraf, a madrasa teacher and traditional healer, she keeps her voice low and behaves in a docile manner. When Fathima is with neighbours and friends, she is her natural, ebullient self. Fasil Muhammed's Malayalam-language Feminichi Fathima (Feminist Fathima) is filled with insightful details about the power dynamic within conservative families. Muhammed's powerful debut feature is a modestly budgeted and richly layered chronicle of repression and rebellion. Feminichi Fathima is set in Ponnani town in Kerala's Malappuram district. Fathima (Shamla Hamza) lives with Ashraf (Kumar Sunil), three children and her mother-in-law. An already overwhelmed Fathima reaches breaking point over her young son's bed-wetting habit. Fathima's disgust at having to deal with a soiled mattress and Ashraf's callous response to her situation set off a chain of responses that neither Fathima nor Ashraf can control. 'Whenever Fathima communicates with her husband, his patriarchal privileges affect her tone,' Muhammed pointed out. 'No such problem disturbs her tone when she deals with her friends and neighbours.' Muhammed's screenplay examines with humour and perspicacity Fathima's gradual journey from submissiveness to revolt. Reluctant to pop out the fourth child that Ashraf wants, the oppressed housewife confronts the inescapable truth that she too is utilitarian and disposable, just like the hated mattress. Fathima finds supporters in her feisty neighbour and a Tamil woman who buys scrap. 'Fathima is a traditional lady but at a particular point in her life, she is forced to stand up for her basic needs,' Muhammed pointed out. 'This makes her rebellious and strong. When she decides not on depend on Ashraf, her tone towards him changes. This indeed is the biggest outcome of the movie.' The film is expected to be released in theatres over the next few weeks. In addition to following its heroine's experiences, Feminichi Fathima pays attention to the role played by technology in a traditional milieu. Ashraf warns his children to watch only content that is 'halal' – acceptable to Islam. The 97-minute film gently skewers Ashraf's self-serving hypocrisy, while also revealing the emotional impact of his insensitivity on his spouse. In some ways, Feminichi Fathima pays homage to fellow Malayalam director Jeo Baby's trailblazing The Great Indian Kitchen (2021), which exposes the drudgery involved in housework. Ashraf, who is barely able to make ends meet and worries that he will lose his standing in his community if his wife starts to disobey him, is a familiar figure in Indian homes, Muhammed pointed out. Rather than portraying Ashraf as a villain, the film tries to understand his position, while not making concessions for his behaviour. 'Ashraf is following the rituals of patriarchy – he too is a victim of the patriarchal system,' Muhammed observed. 'Many men around me contributed to the character's development. He is just following his religion, and his main problem is his inability to change according to the new world.' While Feminichi Fathima takes place in a Muslim community, and looks at the role played by both religious practices and obscurantist beliefs, the story is 'universal', Muhammed said. 'I don't want to limit this movie to a particular community or region,' Muhammed added. 'Basically, this is a movie against patriarchy.' Art has 'no boundaries or limitations based on caste, creed or religion', the filmmaker said. 'We must avoid labelling movies on the basis of religion. Feminichi Fathima challenges those people who do not want to change with the times.' The messaging is strong but not strident – Muhammed maintains an even tone through observational comedy and relatable characters who are mostly played by non-professionals, except for Shamla Hamza and Kumar Sunil. The question of financial autonomy emerges through the characters of the scrap dealer as well as a young Muslim woman who has found a way to be respectful of her faith while earning money from her social media account. 'I strongly recommend that every woman be economically independent – this recognition changes Fathima's tone with her husband,' Muhammed asserted. 'This decision-making power is the ultimate requirement for a common woman rather than jumping into quarrels or big fights.' The 28-year-old director, who calls himself a 'film dreamer', started his career as an editor before making short films and YouTube series. 'My cinematic sensibility has always been attuned to stories that resonate with authenticity,' Muhammed said. 'Movies that evoke emotions, spark reflection and linger long after the credits roll – these are the ones that truly capture my attention.' Like PS Vinothraj's debut Koozhangal (2021), Muhammed was inspired by an incident that happened to his sister. He recalls his sister scolding her son for wetting his bed and pointing out how much trouble the smell of urine caused her. Muhammed was deeply moved by his sibling's plight. 'When I saw her carrying the bed outside with so much pain on her face, I got the idea for the movie,' he said. 'Keeping this as the central theme, I crafted the script by adding many more incidents that I witnessed around me, which I really wish would change.' Just cast neighbours and acquaintances were cast for the supporting roles, friends stepped in to help Muhammed complete the film. Apart from writing and directing Feminichi Fathima, Muhammed has edited and produced the movie. 'I took on the financial challenge from the very beginning by being part of the production,' Muhammed said. 'Later, two of my friends, Thamar KV and Sudheesh Scaria, joined the production.' Feminichi Fathima was premiered at the International Film Festival of Kerala in December 2024, where it won five awards. Muhammed hopes that a theatrical distribution deal will fall into place soon. 'My movie has got exposure only to film festival audiences,' he said. 'The film was a revelation for my family. I also got positive feedback from many Muslim men at other festivals. I am expecting positive discussions from the movie's content. And I want such discussions to happen, since these topics are important and needs society's attention.'
Business Recorder
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Navy chief highlights combat readiness, maritime tech in command and staff conference
The Command and Staff Conference of the Pakistan Navy was held at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad, with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf presiding over the session, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday. The conference reviewed the Pakistan Navy's operational plans, strategic policies, and future roadmap. Senior leadership, including principal staff officers and field commanders, attended the high-level meeting. Admiral Ashraf lauded the Navy's unwavering maritime defence capabilities during Ma'araka-e-Haq (Battle of Truth), emphasising the force's critical role in ensuring maritime security. PAF chief's visit to US reinforces defence cooperation: ISPR The Naval Chief also appreciated the efforts to maintain uninterrupted commercial shipping and port operations along sea lines of communication. He called for sustained combat readiness to counter both conventional and non-traditional threats in the maritime domain. Underscoring the importance of modern technologies, Admiral Ashraf stressed the enhanced use of drones and autonomous surface and sub-surface vessels, also known as naval drones, for surveillance and operations at sea. The conference reaffirmed the Navy's commitment to safeguarding Pakistan's maritime interests amid evolving regional and global maritime dynamics.
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: BCL grateful for strong bond with late husband Ashraf Sinclair's family
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite remarrying, Indonesian singer and actress Bunga Citra Lestari (BCL) continues to maintain a close relationship with the family of her late husband, Ashraf Sinclair. Now married to Tiko Aryawardhana, BCL shared her gratitude that Tiko has been warmly welcomed by Ashraf's family. Speaking to the media recently, she expressed how touched she was by the support from both sides of her family. She revealed that Tiko's family had also been fully supportive of her ongoing connection with Ashraf's loved ones. "I'm so thankful that Ashraf's family has accepted Tiko just as he is. Not just Tiko, but his whole family has embraced the bond I continue to have with Ashraf's family. There has never been an issue," she said. Reflecting on the family dynamic, she added, "I feel like I have three sets of parents now: my own, Ashraf's, and Tiko's. It truly feels like one big, united family." The singer emphasised that her love is not limited to her late husband but extends deeply to his entire family. "I didn't just marry and love Ashraf, but I love his family too. They have always supported me, and even now, they support Tiko as part of our family," she said. BCL made these comments during a press conference held here to announce her upcoming 'BCL: Eternal Love – Timeless Romance' concert, scheduled for Sept 27. BCL married Ashraf on Nov 8, 2008, in Jakarta. The couple have a son, Noah, who is now 14. Tragically, Ashraf passed away on Feb 18, 2020, due to a heart attack. On Dec 4, 2023, she tied the knot with Tiko in a ceremony held in Bali, Indonesia.
