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Shadab Khan: Pakistan’s match-winner who brings ‘fire and life’

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MELBOURNE: No matter what happens when Pakistan face England in Sunday’s final at the MCG, Shadab Khan has had a Twenty20 World Cup to remember.

Starring with both bat and ball, the 24-year-old all-rounder helped energise Pakistan’s flagging campaign when all seemed lost.

After last-ball defeats to India and Zimbabwe, Shadab pulled them back from the brink with three wickets against the Netherlands for their first win.

He then turned up with a fiery 22-ball 52 and bowling figures of 2-16 during his man-of-the-match performance against South Africa.

The Proteas’ subsequent shock defeat to the Netherlands helped Pakistan gatecrash the semi-finals.

Shadab has been shortlisted for player of the tournament and could well win it if Pakistan do business against England in the decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

When team-mates and coaches talk about Shadab they all refer to one thing.

“He brings invaluable energy to the team,” captain Babar Azam said.

Shadab’s commitment and relentless energy, whether it be in training or matches, galvanised Pakistan’s drooping World Cup.

Fire and instinct

Like many Pakistani cricketers, Shadab’s beginnings were humble.

He grew up playing cricket on the rough pitches of Mianwali district, a farming community near the banks of the Indus River in Punjab province.

It also happens to be home to former prime minister and cricket legend Imran Khan and former captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

People who know him well said Shadab has always been relentless in his dedication.

“Shadab’s commitment to cricket is unparalleled,” said his club coach Sajjad Ahmed.

“He used to sleep around 9:00pm and reach the ground before sunrise.

“That’s been his routine for years so that he can practise as much as possible.”

It was Ahmed who suggested Shadab should become an all-rounder and not just focus on batting.

Graduating from club cricket to district level and to Pakistan “A”, Shadab featured in a 2016 junior World Cup in Bangladesh and finished joint top wicket-taker for his team with 11.

The year after, Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United picked him as an emerging player.

“We were picking players in the draft for PSL 2017 and every other team was passing him on so I asked Misbah about him,” recalls Hassan Cheema, strategy manager of United.

“Misbah said that Shadab has that fire and instinct that he had not seen in a player for years.

“Six years later you can see his competitive fire and life he brings in the team is invaluable,” Cheema told AFP.

From boy to man 

But to talk only about his energy and commitment risks downplaying Shadab’s talent.

As a leg-spinner variations are Shadab’s assets and he has had success extracting bounce from the hard Australian pitches at the World Cup.

When he bats and fields his style is aggressive — his triple ability gives Pakistan flexibility in team selections.

It was then-Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur who brought him into the side in 2017.

“When we got Shadab into the team he was incredibly exciting as a cricketer,” Arthur told AFP from Britain.

“He was athletic and was a three-in-one cricketer.”

Since then Shadab has added maturity and confidence to his armoury.

“He is a match-winner for Pakistan. The difference I have seen is that he has come from a boy to a man,” said Arthur.

Leaps and bounds

Shadab had a dream international debut when he was named man of the match in Pakistan’s T20 win over the West Indies in Bridgetown in 2017.

That same year one of Shadab’s finest moments came at the Champions Trophy in a showdown against arch-rivals India, where he trapped Yuvraj Singh in front of the wicket.

English umpire Richard Kettleborough was unmoved but Shadab convinced skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to review — and was proved correct, making Shadab a hero of Pakistan’s win.

“It was very close to the bat but Shadab was confident that it had hit the pad first,” Sarfaraz told AFP.

“It is his confidence in the ground that helps and motivates the team and that is why he is improving by leaps and bounds.”

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Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen’s tight relationship has sparked rumours!

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Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen, co-stars of the famous drama series ‘Meem Se Mohabbat,’ have piqued the public’s interest with their blossoming off-screen chemistry.

The drama has received accolades for its upbeat atmosphere, interesting storyline, and outstanding supporting cast.

Ahad’s mother made a special gesture.

Ahad’s mother, Samra Raza Mir, recently made a sincere gesture for Dananeer, which fuelled the rumours. She made Dananeer’s favourite ‘Dumba Karahi’ using her mother’s secret recipe.

Dananeer

Dananeer expressed her delight on social media, posting a picture of the dish and thanking the person for their considerate gesture.

Ahad’s family has been actively involved in his career and projects, with his father, Asif Raza Mir, also playing a role in ‘Meem Se Mohabbat.’ The family’s close bond with Dananeer also clear, as they previously celebrated her graduation together.

Fan Reactions

Since his divorce, Ahad Raza Mir has lived a low-key personal life. Fans, on the other hand, have been eager to speculate about a possible romance between the two co-stars, citing their developing friendship and family participation as evidence of a budding relationship.

Here’s what the fans said:

“Is Had’s mother cooking for Dananeer?” This is becoming intriguing!”

  • “They look so good together in the drama; maybe there’s something more?”
  • “Ahad deserves happiness after everything, and Dananeer seems like a sweet person.”

While the speculations are mainly based on fan observations, the bond between Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen continues to pique their followers’ interest.

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Kubra Khan has officially announced her wedding date – Here are all the facts!

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Kubra Khan, a distinguished Pakistani actress known for her performances in popular television dramas such as Sang e Mar Mar, Alif Allah Aur Insaan, and Sinf e Aahan, has verified the current wedding rumors about her.

In a recent succinct dialogue with Irfan-ul-Haq for Irfanistan, Khan disclosed her intention to marry in February.

The actress, acclaimed for her role in Noor Jahan, was inquired about the internet rumors regarding her marriage to actor Gohar Rasheed. Khan stated, “Yes, I am reportedly getting married in February.”

Kubra Khan’s statement offers clarification; nonetheless, she did not elaborate on the wedding. Her employment of the term “apparently” introduced uncertainty, inciting curiosity among both fans and the media.

Kubra Khan Affirms Her Nuptials

Speculation on the prospective union of Khan and Rasheed has been prevalent for a while, especially following the actor’s enigmatic social media updates.

Rasheed had earlier shared films documenting the preparations for a wedding ceremony, with hashtags such as “Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi,” which intensified curiosity. He subsequently teased his fans, indicating that he would soon reveal the identity of the individual getting married.

Kubra Khan Affirms Her Nuptials

Khan and Rasheed have consistently preserved a tight friendship, both articulating their reciprocal admiration for the other. Nevertheless, they have maintained the confidentiality of their personal lives, addressing the persistent rumors in the public sphere only sporadically.

Khan remarked on her tenure with Hum TV, emphasizing the significant importance of Sang-e-Mar Mar, since it was her debut with the network.

The actress has long been a prominent figure in Pakistani culture, recognized for her diverse performances and commanding screen presence.

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Trolling her own appearance at her brother’s Walima is Zara Noor Abbas.

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Known for her openness and distinct sense of style, Zara Noor Abbas recently responded to the bullying she received for wearing a walima during her brother’s wedding.

The star’s feathered stole stole the show, even though she wore a gorgeous grey gown. Comments on her accessory choice were all over social media, with many people saying she looked stunning without it.

In a recent Instagram video, Zara made fun of herself by acknowledging that the feathers were a “blunder” and making a light-hearted comparison to “Papa Ki Pari,” a term frequently used to poke fun at overindulgent daughters.

She did, however, express her affection for the gown in spite of the conflicting opinions about her appearance.

Zara’s fans were won over by her self-deprecating humour and her willingness to own up to her fashion mistakes and take criticism well.

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