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Pakistan ready to welcome top cricketing countries next year

Edna Cooper Blogging, Pakistan news, Sports , ,
Pakistan ready to welcome top cricketing countries next year

Pakistan hasn’t hosted any home test matches for nearly a decade due to a terrorist attack on a rival team’s bus in 2009. Recently, the government has said it is ready now to welcome top cricketing nations such as South Africa, England, West Indies, and New Zealand in 2021.

Chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Wasim Khan, said that they’re working hard to build and nurture relationships with other cricket boards.

South Africa is scheduled to visit Pakistan in a two-test series, which is part of world test championship in January, 2021.

New Zealand is planned for five Twenty20s and three ODIs in September, followed by two Twenty20s against England, which will be England’s first tour to Pakistan since 2005.

The PCB has also scheduled a home series against West Indies in December.

After the 2009 terrorist attack, test cricket only came back to Pakistan late last year as Sri Lanka played two five-day games at Karachi and Rawalpindi and Bangladesh also played a test match before their second test was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In between the Zimbabwe and Bangladesh tours, the Pakistan Super League – a domestic Twenty20 league – presses Pakistan’s claims to host international games.

There were some big players who toured Pakistan and played for various city-based franchise teams, including Australia’s Shane Watson and South Africa’s Dale Steyn and Faf du Plessis. Wasim Khan believes these players had a key role in capturing Pakistan’s improving image among cricket-playing nations all over the world.

It is quite normal in Pakistan that cricket team buses heavily guarded by armed personnel whenever abroad contingents travel to the stadium from hotels to ensure tight security. That often blocks heavy traffic on major roads of big cities such as Lahore and Karachi.

Khan said that they would continue to provide state-level security as long as possible.

Tokyo Olympic Games must be held regardless of the status of Covid-19, says Japanese minister

Edna Cooper Blogging, news, Sports , ,
Tokyo Olympic Games must be held regardless of the status of Covid-19, says Japanese minister

Japanese minister Seiko Hashimoto says the hosting country is planning for the Tokyo Olympic Games next year, whether the vaccine is widely available  or not.

Seiko Hashimoto has said, that the Tokyo Olympics must be held “at any cost”, as organizers go on to weigh up options for staging a post-pandemic celebration of sport in Tokyo next summer.

She told reporters on Tuesday that everyone involved with the Games is working hard together to prepare and all athletes are also making great efforts towards next year. She wants to concentrate all of their efforts on measures against the coronavirus.

She suggested the priority had changed from planning for the complete Games into an event that would be able to enable athletes to compete regardless of the status of the world health crisis.

There remains a growing belief within the national Olympic committees that the events will happen following lengthy discussions about how they can be held safely.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were suspended in March when the Covid-19 pandemic started its rampage through the US, Europe, India, Brazil, and other parts around the world.

Health experts warn that a vaccine seems not to be widely available by the time the opening ceremony is planned to take place on 23 July 2021. As a result, a task force of organizers, health experts, national and local government officials met last week to discuss about anti-virus measures.

The group, expected to release an interim report at the end of the year, is sifting through over 200 proposals on how best to prevent an Olympic-related outbreak at the same time enabling about 11,000 athletes from over 200 countries to travel to Japan.

The Tokyo chief executive, Toshiro Muto, insisted Last week that the Olympic Games must be held even if a vaccine was unavailable since a vaccine is not a requirement. However, if vaccines are developed, they will really appreciate it and that would be great for the Olympics.

Although it is possible to reduce the risks to athletes, it is much harder in terms of ensuring the safety of huge numbers of spectators from overseas.

90% of sports activities in Pakistan can resume, according to Pakistan’s Olympic chief

Edna Cooper Sports
90% of sports activities in Pakistan can resume, according to Pakistan’s Olympic chief

President of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Lt Gen Arif Hassan believes that about 90 percent of sports activities can resume in the country in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Arif, it was time to prepare a comprehensive blueprint for the coming back of sports after taking all possible precautionary measures and urged the government to look into it. He believes that they can allow the resumption of almost 90 percent of sports activities in the country, step by step, by following proper guidelines and SOPs.

In March, the government launched a nation-wide lockdown with the aim of slowing down the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The government notification included a ban on all organized sports activities. In recent weeks, the authorities have eased the restrictions on various activities in order to lift the country’s sagging economy and the ban on sports activities hasn’t been reviewed.

The POA chief is of the opinion that the resumption of sports in the country could take place step by step by starting with sports which has a minimum risk of spreading the virus, such as bicycling. However, of course, it is necessary to take all the necessary precautions with proper SOPs in place and ensure that all athletes taking part in a competition are tested for the Covid-19 before giving them permission.

In many other countries in the world, the biggest problem when resuming major sports events is that the can only go ahead without spectators due to the Covid-19 situation. However, this isn’t a big problem for most sports events in Pakistan since only major cricket matches and a few other sports attract a large number of spectators.

Arif urged the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, which governs Pakistan sports, to take the lead and prepare a plan for the resumption of sports activities in the country.

How is the Pakistan football team doing? (Part 2)

Edna Cooper Sports , , , ,
How is the Pakistan football team doing? (Part 2)

The Pakistani Olympic team does not set a high target at ASIAD. Coach Jose Antonio Nogueira also stated: “Our main goal when participating in this tournament is to accumulate experience for young players. However, we will try our best one by one. and could not say in advance what might happen. “

The fact that Jose Antonio Nogueira has been cautious is reasonable. However, for many, this may be a social statement and completely just a “trick” of this strategist.

At this year’s ASIAD, the Pakistani Olympic Games does not have the young talents competing in Europe such as Kamran Ali Iqbal (Grorud Club – Norway), Easah Suliman (Aston Villa – England) and Adnan Mohamed (Helsingor – Denmark).

Attending ASIAD this time, the Pakistani Olympic has 7 players less than 20 years old. Coach Jose Antonio Nogueira also summoned three faces over the age of 23 including goalkeeper Yousuf Butt (born in Canada) and midfielder Saddam Hussain currently playing in Europe, with player Memood Khan currently serving the sentence. KRL FC domestic club.

Currently the Pakistani players are very excited before the match. Winning before the Olympic will obviously be a great motivation and meaningful in the day marking the return of Pakistani football.

They have carefully prepared a 2-week training course in Bahrain with 2 victories, 1 draw and 1 loss against the country’s top clubs. The team’s living expenses were doubled from USD 100 to USD 200 per day.

Olym Pakistan has attended ASIAD 3 times (2002, 2006, 2014), in which they have never passed the group stage. In total of 8 matches in this arena, Pakistan lost 7 and drew 1. They scored 2 goals and conceded 23 times.

According to the South Korean leader, the opening match against the Pakistan Olympic Games is important for the Olympic Games to win tickets. That is why the whole team will join the spirit of a final to win 3 points, creating excitement for the next journey.

How is the Pakistan football team doing? (Part 1)

Edna Cooper Sports , , , ,
How is the Pakistan football team doing? (Part 1)

The Pakistan team is ranked 201 out of 206 members of the World Football Federation (FIFA) and has been banned from international competition for the past 3 years. This ban has greatly affected Pakistani football.

According to footballpakistan.com, even the fans of this team are not confident about the chances of winning the Olympic Games in ASIAD 2018.

This page said that the Pakistan Olympic Games was in an unhappy situation when it was in the same group with teams from Vietnam, Japan and Nepal.

However, with the format of ASIAD 2018, in which the two top teams in each group and 4 teams ranked third with the best performance will attend the round of 1/8, the Pakistani Olympic is expected to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Leading the Pakistani Olympic team this time is Jose Antonio Nogueira – a coach who has over 20 years of experience in Brazil and Asia when leading clubs such as Nagoya Grampus Eight, Al Ahli, Portuguesa, Gremio Barueri, Emelec, etc.

Nogueira’s best record is the 1998 Ecuadorian championship with Emelec and the Kings Cup (Saudia Arabia) with Al Ahli. The 52-year-old strategist was recently appointed with a three-year contract to lead both the national team and the Pakistani Olympic team.

Accompanying Nogueira at ASIAD 2018 is fellow country coach Jose Beto Portella. The duo is praised by experts for their ability to improve tactics, as well as the physical strength of the Pakistani teams, which have been long focused and competing.

Speaking to the press, strategist Jose Antonio Nogueira said: “I have learned many players of the Vietnamese Olympic Games. I know this team brings Indonesia a very strong squad, with the core of the U23 players just won the Asian runner-up in the Asian League and three players over the age of 23. This is a strong team in Group D as well as ASIAD, obviously we will have a very difficult game coming. “

Pakistan – where football is forgotten (Part 2)

Edna Cooper Sports , , , ,
Pakistan – where football is forgotten (Part 2)

“Local officials occasionally throw money at football, swimming or weightlifting, but it just makes fun. They have no responsibility or effort. We are still waiting to see if sports are a priority for the new government or not”.

The government ignored sports, and the local did not want to invest in football. Pakistan Football Federation Secretary General (PFF) Mujahidullah Tareen said on the APP in early July 2018: “The Lyari district (Karachi city) has a lot of football talent, enough to form a national team. Local authorities don’t want to build a football field in Lyari. That’s why Pakistani football is behind.”

PFF is trying to change the situation. In May 2018, after being lifted by FIFA, they began the reconstruction work. PFF signed coach Jose Antonio Nogueira and assistant Jose Roberto Portella, in the hope of using latin to find talent. 60 domestic players were convened that month, leaving the Brazilian duo to select outstanding players for Asiad and South Asia. In the first two weeks, Mr. Nogueira stuffed his students physically – players who had not played professionally for three years.

Pakistan football is no longer frozen, players playing abroad are also known to return to contribute to the team. After the filtering period, coach Nogueira selected 28 players to come to Bahrain for training from July 17 to July 30. They played four matches with the reserve team of clubs in Bahrain with the result: winning two, drawing one, losing one.

The majority of current Pakistani players are selected from the National Cup a few months ago. But to achieve achievements, Pakistan still needs veterans to battle. Saddam Hussain midfielder Muhammad Ahmed and goalkeeper in Denmark – Yousuf Butt are likely to take three tickets out of 23 at Asiad. The pair of strikers Murtaza Hussain and Saad Ullah are also expected. Many pillars of Pakistan will gather more in the South Asia tournament after Asiad.

Pakistan – where football is forgotten (Part 1)

Edna Cooper Sports , , , ,
Pakistan – where football is forgotten (Part 1)

Pakistani football had peaked in the 1960s and 1970s. It was then that they were led by captain Abdul Ghafoor Majna – the nickname “Pele of Pakistan”. At that time, they were always in the top 10 of Asia, once knocking over the Soviet Union. But for many reasons, Pakistani football gradually descends. After stopping in the beginning of the World Cup qualifier against Yemen in March 2015, Pakistan received a ban from FIFA due to the government’s deep involvement in football.

When the Telstar ball at the World Cup 2018 was rolling, the football fields in Pakistan were just rubble. The Pakistan National Championship stagnated, the team fell to 201 FIFA. Football officials have set their sights on attending the 2026 World Cup finals, when the tournament has been expanded to 48 teams, but they have no specific plans.

In Pakistan, there are three million people playing football, according to FIFA statistics. The country of 193 million people cannot compete in the South Asian Championship, but they still dream about the World Cup. Pakistan’s passion for soccer is undeniable. Movement matches attract viewers no less the national prize. But the Pakistan government has no plans to develop football in this country, as well as many other sports.

Cricket is the most popular sport in Pakistan. Their new prime minister – Mr. Imran Khan – is the legend of this football. He was the leader of the national team that won the 1992 World Cup, after beating England in the final. Khan will try to invest in Pakistan’s football once again to the top of the world, but the fate of football and other subjects remains open. A few days after he took office, the hockey team went on strike. They refuse to attend Asiad if they have not been paid for benefits for the past six months.

“The new government has not made any change yet. We, Pakistani sports fans, want to give advice to the country to invest in football and other subjects, not just wooden balls,” said the site manager.