Latest news with #MohammadAmir
Express Tribune
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Salman Agha praises 'team effort' in win over BD
Pak T20 skipper Salman Ali Agha has been getting better with every game since taking over team's reins last year. PHOTO: AFP Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha credited team effort for their comprehensive 37-run victory over Bangladesh in the first T20I of the three-match series here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. Reflecting on the victory, Agha lauded the batting unit's collective effort to breach the 200-run barrier despite the dismal start before emphasising that a complete all-round performance is what he craves from his team. "After being 5/2, it was great to see everyone contribute to reach 200-plus," said Agha. "That's exactly the team effort we want - performing well in all three departments. We encourage players to back themselves and take the initiative," he added. Agha specifically praised Ali for his five-wicket haul, revealing that people are saying that he was bowling like he used to in 2017, the year Pakistan won the ICC Men's Champions Trophy. "Hasan Ali has been phenomenal — people are saying he's bowling like it's 2017 again. His hard work is paying off, first in the PSL and now tonight," Agha stated. While responding to a question regarding plenty of all-rounders in the team, Agha, an all-rounder himself, termed it a real luxury, asserting that it provides him with a handful of quality options. "Our all-rounders are a real luxury. Even Saim Ayub can bowl his full four overs. With so many quality all-round options, we're in a great position. We'll rest tomorrow and regroup for the second game." Mohammad Amir roped in by Essex for T20 Blast Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has been drafted to the Essex County Cricket Club for the Vitality Blast, scheduled to commence on Thursday. The announcement was made by the club on its social media handles as it shared the pacer's pictures donning its jersey. Amir, in a video statement, shared his excitement upon the signing and urged the fans for their support. "Great to be back here and I am really happy and looking forward to seeing you all. I need your support. Please come and support us. See you all soon," the pacer stated. The Essex will kick off their T20 Blast 2025 campaign against Hampshire in a night fixture, scheduled to be played at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Friday. Mohammad Amir recently participated in this year's Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 and finished as the joint-fifth leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps in nine matches.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
T20 Blast Prediction: Will we see a repeat champion?
T20 Blast tips: The Vitality Blast returns on Thursday, aiming to be bigger and better than ever and, as always, we're expecting big hitting, lots of boundaries and players making a real name for themselves. This is the first time the men and women have played side by side in the competition with the Women's Finals Day at the Kia Oval on July 27 and Men's Finals Day at Edgbaston on September 13. All 18 first-class counties will host at least one women's and men's Vitality Blast double-header during the season, starting this weekend. The men's competition is entering its 22nd year, and each team plays 14 group-stage matches against the counties in their regional section, with the draw split into north and south. The top four teams in each group progress to the quarter-finals, with those winners then qualifying for Finals Day in September. Gloucestershire, who are the reigning champions, have set their intent for the season with the signing of D'Arcy Short, who is a two-time Big Bash League player of the tournament. He previously played in the competition with Durham in 2019 and Hampshire in 2021, and he will play alongside his Western Australia teammate Cameron Bancroft. Durham have themselves strengthened with the signing of New Zealander Jimmy Neesham, who will link up with his compatriot Zak Foulkes. Who will come out on top in the south? Essex will be hoping the return of Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir can help them return to their glory days. The left-arm spinner is back for his third spell at the club, but his last in 2019 saw him take 24 T20 wickets in 21 matches as they won the County Championship and Blast Final. Another player who will be hoping he can roll back the years is James Anderson, who signed a contract with Lancashire to feature in the tournament for the first time since 2014. He took four wickets in four matches then and he will be hoping for a bigger impact this time around. Cricket betting sites have Surrey as the favourites for the tournament outright at 6/1, just ahead of Somerset at 7/1. Somerset were the runners-up last season and the winners the season before, so they definitely know what this tournament is all about, but can they reach the final for the third campaign in a row? New Zealand international Matt Henry will be key to their success after returning to the club for the season. He was previously at the club in 2023, was the leading wicket taker in the competition and claimed the Player of the Match award in the final as Somerset beat Essex to lift the trophy. Bears the standouts up north? When it comes to the northern teams, Birmingham Bears are the best placed at 15/2 to win the tournament outright. With Moeen Ali playing his swansong, plus the prospect of having Jacob Bethell and Chris Woakes in their line-up as well as Barbadian fast bowler Che Simmons, it's no surprise that the Bears are among the favourites, betting sites offering 3/1 to win their group. They last won the tournament in 2014 and were runners-up in 2017. A first placed finish in 2024 did justice to their abilities but they'll face stiff competition from Nottinghamshire, who will hope to come back strongly after finishing last in the group, while northern stalwarts Lancashire and Yorkshire can always be counted on to provide a fierce test. Gloucestershire to go back-to-back? One of the quirks of the T20 Blast is just how difficult a tournament it is to win in consecutive years. Since its inception in 2003 the no winner of the competition has won it again the following year and 2025 will see Gloucestershire attempt to end that. They finished fourth in the South Division in 2024 and were a surprising team to reach finals day. Yet, they hammered Somerset in the final with an eight-wicket win and should they get to Edgbaston again they'll have a chance. At 16/1 with betting apps confidence is low but they provided a blueprint of how to win last season. Only occasionally does winning a division lead to winning the tournament. Somerset achieved it in 2023 and reached the final again in 2024. They will get to finals day this season too barring a shockingly awful campaign. Should they win the tournament it would not be a surprise but we think the overall winner will emulate Gloucestershire. As such, Northamptonshire are our pick after impressing in 2024. They've had an indifferent start to County Championship season but tend to be stronger inthe white-ball format and at 14/1 are being favoured more than the current champions. T20 Blast prediction 3: Northants to win T20 Blast - 14/1 William Hill Please gamble responsibly When having a bet, it's vital to practice responsible gambling. Betting can be addictive, and it's important to stay in control of your betting. Never treat gambling as a way to make money, never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop. Gambling sites offer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self exclusion options, to help them stay in control. But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don't hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
All-rounder Ashraf leads Quetta to Pakistan Super League final
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Quetta Gladiators made it to its first Pakistan Super League final in six years when it beat defending champion Islamabad United by 30 runs in qualifier 1 on Wednesday. Pakistan's premier domestic T20 tournament was suspended for nine days due to tensions between India and Pakistan. Quetta's only PSL title came in 2019 when it beat Peshawar Zalmi by eight wickets in the final. All-rounder Faheem Ashraf was the star for Quetta as his rampant 45 off 23 balls propelled the former champion to 209-6 with Dinesh Chandimal also contributing a handy unbeaten 48 off 28 balls. Ashraf and Chandimal countercharged with a 95-run partnership off 48 balls after Quetta ran into trouble at 113-5 in the 12th over as both batters smashed eight boundaries and six sixes in between them. Ashraf (2-33) then struck immediately with the new ball when he bowled opening batter Alex Hales of England for a duck of his second ball and later also hit the top of James Neesham's off-stump as Islamabad got bowled out for 179 in 19.4 overs. Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 52 — his fourth 50-plus score in the tournament — and Salman Ali Agha made 44 in an otherwise lackluster performance by Islamabad batters. Off-spinner Usman Tariq picked up 3-32 while fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Wasim shared four wickets between them. Karachi Kings will take on Lahore Qalandars in the eliminator on Thursday with the winner to face Islamabad in the qualifier 2 on Friday. The final will is Sunday. ___ AP cricket:
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
PSL 2025: Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz both score centuries for Quetta Gladiators in huge win
Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz both hit centuries as Quetta Gladiators thrashed Islamabad United by 109 runs in the Pakistan Super League. South African Rossouw scored 104 from 46 balls before Nawaz hit the final ball of the innings for four to reach his hundred in 45 deliveries and power Quetta to 263-3 - the highest score in a PSL match. It was the first time two batters had scored a century in the same innings in the tournament and only the 10th the feat had been achieved in all men's T20s. Islamabad collapsed to 68-8 in reply and they were bowled out for 154 as Mohammad Amir finished with 3-6 from two overs. Left-hander Rossouw came in with Quetta at 24-1 in the third over and hit 14 fours and six sixes, reaching his century in 44 deliveries. After Saud Shakeel was out for 23, Rossouw and 22-year-old right-hander Nawaz put on 134 in 61 balls. Rossouw was caught at long-on in the 16th over, but Nawaz continued his assault by dominating a partnership of 69 in 26 balls with New Zealander Mark Chapman, hitting nine sixes in his superb knock. Nawaz scored 105 not out for Pakistan in March against New Zealand in his first series, but made three ducks and one in his other four innings. Quetta had already secured a place in the PSL play-offs but are now guaranteed to finish in the top two, thus avoiding the eliminator. Islamabad need to beat Karachi Kings in their final match on Saturday 10 May to guarantee a play-off place.
Express Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
PSL 2025 points table: Who will follow Quetta Gladiators into playoffs?
Former champions Quetta Gladiators have become the first team to officially qualify for the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 playoffs after securing 11 points from eight matches. Currently sitting at the top of the table with a net run rate (NRR) of +0.906, the Gladiators' qualification was announced on HBL PSL's social media platforms with a stylised poster featuring captain Saud Shakeel, veteran fast bowler Mohammad Amir and explosive batter Rilee Rossouw. Their campaign began strongly with a dominant win over Peshawar Zalmi, followed by a mid-season slump with two heavy losses. However, Quetta bounced back to win four of their next five matches, with one abandoned, ensuring a place in the final four. The remaining five league matches now carry major playoff implications as four teams—Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi—jockey for the final three spots. Bottom-placed Multan Sultans have been eliminated. Playoff Scenarios Islamabad United (10 pts, NRR +0.650) need one win from their remaining two matches (vs Quetta on 7 May, vs Karachi on 10 May) to qualify. Two wins could see them finish in the top two. Karachi Kings (10 pts, NRR +0.433) also require at least one more win (vs Zalmi on 8 May, vs Islamabad on 10 May). A top-two finish is possible if they win both and results favour them. Lahore Qalandars (9 pts, NRR +0.958) have one match left (vs Zalmi on 9 May). A win should be enough unless net run rate scenarios turn dramatically against them. Peshawar Zalmi (8 pts, NRR -0.082) must win both remaining matches (vs Karachi on 8 May, vs Lahore on 9 May) to qualify without relying on other results. Multan Sultans (2 pts, NRR -2.708) are already out and play their final match against Quetta on 11 May. Remaining Fixtures 7 May – Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators (Rawalpindi) 8 May – Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings (Rawalpindi) 9 May – Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars (Rawalpindi) 10 May – Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings (Rawalpindi) 11 May – Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators (Multan) Current HBL PSL 10 Points Table # Team M W L NR Pts NRR Last 5 Matches 1 Quetta Gladiators 8 5 2 1 11 +0.906 W W W NR W 2 Islamabad United 8 5 3 0 10 +0.650 W W L L L 3 Karachi Kings 8 5 3 0 10 +0.433 L W L W W 4 Lahore Qalandars 9 4 4 1 9 +0.958 L W W NR L 5 Peshawar Zalmi 8 4 4 0 8 -0.082 L W L W W 6 Multan Sultans 9 1 8 0 2 -2.708 L L L L L With playoff spots still up for grabs and only five games left, all eyes will be on Rawalpindi and Multan this week as HBL PSL 10 heads toward a dramatic finish.
