Sports

PSL 8: Shae Gill, Asim Azhar, Faris Shafi to feature in official anthem

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

KARACHI: Young musician Abdullah Siddiqui has composed this year’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) official anthem, sources informed GeoSuper.tv Tuesday.

For a second consecutive year, Siddiqui will be making the PSL anthem as last year he, alongside Atif Aslam and Aima Baig, composed PSL 7 anthem named “Agay Dekh”.

As confirmed by the PSL on its official account, Asim Azhar and Shae Gill will sing this year’s anthem. Sources told GeoSuper.tv that the third singer is Faris Shafi who will give a rap touch to the song.

Previously, Ali Sethi, son of current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) head Najam Sethi, was roped in to sing PSL 8 song. The makers of Pasoori were set to make this year’s anthem. But, Najam, a two-time former PCB chairman, decided to revoke the contract involving his son to avoid a conflict of interest.

“I’m disappointed that Ali won’t be able to sing the anthem. Ali is also upset about this,” Najam shared in a press conference last month.

“We will bring in Ali Sethi for the anthem when I’m not here. You need to understand my position. I don’t want to be involved in any controversy over conflict of interest,” he had said.

Ali and Shae sang Pasoori in Coke Studio season 14 which gained massive popularity worldwide. Under former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, the Pasoori team was hired to produce the anthem.

Last year’s anthem, also produced by Abdullah, garnered over 10 million views on YouTube.

PSL 8 will be played from February 13 to March 19 in Karachi, Multan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.

Multan will be hosting PSL’s opening ceremony and match for the first time in its history. Home side Multan Sultans will take on defending champions Lahore Qalandars on February 13.

Karachi will host its first match on February 14 between Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi.

In the first phase till February 26, Karachi and Multan will host 14 matches. On the same day, Lahore will host its first match. Thereafter, the league will move to Lahore and Rawalpindi.

Sources also claimed that Rawalpindi will host most 11 matches in this year’s PSL. The final of the mega event will take place at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium on March 19.

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Sumair Ahmad is named the 2025 Champions Trophy Director by PCB.

Published

2 days ago

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PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi commented on the appointment, saying, “Sumair is a highly organized professional with a wealth of administrative expertise.” He will undoubtedly give players, officials, and fans alike an amazing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, especially when combined with his unshakable love for cricket.

He continued, “The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 promises to showcase Pakistan’s ability to host world-class cricketing events, welcoming players and fans from around the globe to experience the country’s renowned hospitality and passion for the game.”

The BCCI informed the ICC earlier this month that it will not be sending a side to the event, which is set for 2025 in Pakistan during the February–March season.

After the PCB asked for clarity in its letter regarding the BCCI’s unwillingness to tour Pakistan, the ICC requested India’s justifications for not inviting Pakistan to compete for the Champions Trophy.

The broadcasters, meanwhile, reportedly pushed the ICC to make the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule available right away.

Due to the Indian government’s refusal to send a delegation to Pakistan for the event, the schedule that was supposed to be issued on November 12 was postponed.

The broadcasting rights, which were given to broadcasters for a record $3 billion until 2027, are heavily dependent on the success of the main events, especially those involving India and Pakistan, which regularly attract the largest audiences.

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India withdraws from the World Cup of Blind T20 Cricket in Pakistan

Published

3 days ago

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Adding to the issue surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Indian government refused to allow their squad to travel to Pakistan for the Blind Cricket T20 World Cup, which is set to start in Lahore on November 23.

According to Indian media, India, the reigning champion, would not go to Pakistan to play in the Blind T20 World Cup 2024 since the government has not given its approval.

Lahore and Multan are set to host the Blind T20 World Cup 2024 from November 23 to December 3.

The general secretary of the Indian Blind Cricket Association (IBCA), Sailendra Yadav, recently discussed the upsetting news about the blind cricket team’s upcoming trip to Pakistan in an interview with India Today.

The team was given a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Sports Ministry, but the Ministry of External Affairs finally refused to allow them to enter the border, Yadav revealed.

Yadav stated, “We have been waiting for the government to give us permission to travel to Pakistan for the past 25 days.”

“We will not be receiving any authorization to travel to Pakistan, and we can cancel your tournament,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed us over the phone.

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Aaqib Javed designated as interim head coach for white-ball formats of Pakistan

Published

4 days ago

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On Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the hiring of former fast bowler Aaqib Javed as the interim head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team till the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Throughout this period, Aaqib will maintain his role as a senior member of the men’s National Selection Committee and will be allocated more responsibilities upon the completion of the eight-team tournament.

The PCB will commence the recruitment process for a permanent white-ball head coach, with the objective of finalising the appointment before the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy, which is set to take place from 19 February to 9 March.

The white-ball coaching position became available with Gary Kirsten’s departure last month, prior to the current tour of Australia.

In Kirsten’s absence, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie led the team during the tour of Australia and will now return for the forthcoming two-Test series in South Africa.

The Pakistan men’s team is set to compete in three ODIs and three T20Is in Zimbabwe from November 24 to December 5, followed by an equal number of white-ball matches in South Africa from December 10 to 22.

Prior to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan will host New Zealand and South Africa for an ODI triangular series from February 8 to 14.

Aaqib Javed had considerable coaching expertise, having formerly held the position of Pakistan’s bowling coach during their triumphant ICC T20 World Cup campaign in 2009. Earlier this year, he served as the bowling coach for the Sri Lanka men’s squad.

Before that, he managed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in achieving ODI status and qualifying for the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia during his term as head coach.

Additionally, the right-arm fast bowler served as the coach of Pakistan’s Under-19 squad during their victory in the U19 World Cup in 2004.