Legendary Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi announced his retirement from international cricket, ending an illustrious and sometimes controversial 21-year career.

The 36-year-old star had already quit Tests in 2010 and ODI cricket after the 2015 World Cup but still skippered the Pakistan Twenty20 team at the 2016 world championships in India.

He stepped down as captain after the tournament although he retained slender hopes of continuing his career in the sport’s shortest format as a player.

“I have said goodbye to international cricket,” said Afridi after smashing a 28-ball 54 in a Pakistan Super League match for Peshawar Zalmi in Sharjah.

“I am playing for my fans and will continue to play this league for another two years but it’s goodbye from international cricket.

“Now my foundation is important for me. I have played with seriousness and in a professional way for my country.”

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Nicknamed ‘Boom Boom’, Afridi had been a fan favourite since he burst onto the scene in 1996, striking a 37-ball one-day century against Sri Lanka in only his second match to set a world record that was unbeaten for 18 years.

He became known as a leg-spin bowling all-rounder in the second half of his career and was instrumental in Pakistan’s early successes in Twenty20, including their 2009 victory.

After stopping short of retirement following Pakistan’s first round exit at the 2016 World Twenty20, Afridi had wanted to play a farewell Twenty20 match against West Indies in United Arab Emirates in September.

But selectors, with one eye on the future, did not pick him in the squad.

His blistering breakthrough century in Nairobi in 1996 was only surpassed by New Zealand’s Corey Anderson’s 36-ball hundred against West Indies at Queenstown in 2014.

South African AB de Villiers then bettered the record further with a 31-ball century, also against the West Indies, at Johannesburg in 2015.

Afridi’s rapid-fire century in Kenya made him an instant hit with the crowds who expected fireworks every time he strolled to the crease.

Sometimes he delivered but too often for some, his death or glory approach brought his downfall –

Afridi’s maverick style also brought him a one-Test and two-match ODI ban after he was charged with using his foot to tamper with the pitch during a Test against England in Faisalabad in 2005.

He was also banned for two Twenty20 internationals after he was shown on television biting the ball during a one-day international against Australia at Perth in 2010.

Career Summary –

Afridi finishes his international career having played just 27 Test matches which yielded 1,176 runs with a highest score of 156 and 48 wickets.

He played 398 one-day internationals with 8,064 runs, a highest score of 124 while taking 395 wickets with his leg spin.

His Twenty20 international CV saw him play 98 matches with 1,405 runs and a career-leading 97 wickets.

On Sunday night, Bollywood fans were in for a shock when a news started circulating on social media that Farida Jalal is DEAD!

Remember the affable veteran actress who was often seen in Karan Johar movies as either Shah Rukh Khan or Kajol’s mother? Once a heroine, too, the beautiful Farida Jalal is a face that not many can forget. Add to that her charming acting. And so, on Sunday night, Bollywood fans were in for a rude shock when a news started circulating on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other social media that Farida Jalal is DEAD! Condolences began pouring in and there were obituaries written, some being written and published as we speak, but the real news is that FARIDA JALAL is NOT DEAD!

The story of Farida Jalal’s death is said to have been started by Pakistani Twitter handles. But Farida said, 

“I am hale and hearty. I don’t know from where these baseless rumours are coming from. Initially I laughed, but from last 30 minutes my phone has been constantly ringing and everybody is asking the same question. It’s a bit irritating, I wonder why people spread such rumours’.”

Take a look at the update on a Wikipedia page that caused the furore

photo credits: filmymonkey.com

Celebrity death hoaxes in recent times, and of the same Bollywood stars time and again, have been that of veteran actors Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar and Shashi Kapoor, veteran playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, actresses Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit-Nene, rap singer Yo Yo Honey Singh when he went into hibernation due to depression, comedian Johny Lever, and superstar Salman Khan. 

Death hoaxes are regular in Hollywood, too (unfortunately), and recently there have been actors like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Depp, Jackie Chan, Jack Black, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman and Adam Sandler, and singer Lady Gaga, to name a few, who were pronounced dead even before waiting for an official announcement or confirmation from the right sources.

We are glad that all these stars are hale and hearty! Farida Jalal will be soon seen in the role of a Kashmiri woman in television actor Imran Khan’s first film production, Sargoshiyan. The story is about unseen Kashmir and we are sure looking forward to seeing her in the film.

KRK please stop spreading hoax

Farida Jalal is Alive, and We confirm the same. 

Actor Hrithik Roshan says the success of “Kaabil” has made him especially happy for his father Rakesh Roshan.

“‘Kaabil’ getting 200 more screens in the second week is a sign from the universe that one must just focus on good work and leave the rest to God. This is a huge victory. I want to thank all the ‘Kaabil’ fans for making this happen.

“It is unprecedented and I feel especially happy for my father who remains one of the few active and successful non-corporatised producers in our film industry. My gratitude to all the forces who made this happen,” Hrithik said.

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The film about a blind man’s vendetta after his wife’s rape and suicide, has also been released in Pakistan.

“I am delighted that our neighbours will get to see ‘Kaabil’ in cinemas all across. ‘Kaabil’ has received an overwhelming response from India and I hope for the same love from the audience there,” he added.

The film has grown at the box office since its release in spite of formidable competition from the Shah Rukh Khan starrer “Raees”, which released on the same day.

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A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson has rejected as “outrageous allegations” comments doing the rounds in the Pakistani press that actor Om Puri, who died recently, was “murdered as part of a political conspiracy”.

BJP spokesperson Shaina NC said the Pakistani press needs to exercise restraint. “First, Om Puri was our national treasure. His death is none of their business. Secondly, even if they make it their business they should get their facts right and not make wild outrageous allegations supported by absolutely ridiculous arguments, she said.

The spokesperson further said: “We in India believe in a free and fair press. Not a free-for-all press.”

Reports in print and television media in Pakistan claimed that Om Puri was “smothered to death with a pillow.” There was some speculation in India at the time of Om Puri’s death that he may not have died of a heart attack, as stated. An unverified report said his body had been found naked with an injury mark on the back of his head.

Some reports in the Pakistani press, without giving any evidence, said that Salman Khan and Fawad Khan are likely to be killed next.

The claim of “murder” by the Pakistani media is based on the assertion that Om Puri was against the Narendra Modi government.

However, this is not true. Om Puri had spoken out against boycotting of Pakistani artistes after the Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir in September last year and he had once spoken against sacrifices by Indian soldiers. But he later regretted those remarks (“Did we force them to join the army?”). He has not said anything against the Modi government.

He was also subjected to vicious trolling because of the remarks on Indian soldiers.

On a television show when Om Puri was queried about his comments on the soldiers and asked whether he was anti-national, he got very emotional and said he would never participate in a television debate again.

He explained that during another television debate he was asked a question. “I was answering. In the middle of my answer, they asked me about soldiers and in irritation I said what I did. It was wrong. Terribly wrong of me to disrespect our soldiers. I pronounce myself guilty,” he said.

He said being sorry was not enough and he was willing to go to jail because of the comment if the government decided to punish him. Later, he visited the families of soldiers killed in the Uri attack and offered help to the children.

About banning Pakistani artistes, he said that “people in our country are angry. Let the Pakistanis stay away for a while. But the Indian government is quiet over the issue. Let the Indian government decide to send back all artistes, entrepreneurs and people visiting their relatives from Pakistan.”.

He had also recalled his own pleasant visits to Pakistan. “I’ve been to Pakistan six times. Each visit has been pleasant and rewarding. Everywhere I went, I was accorded great respect and love,” he told this correspondent a month ago.

He had also expressed respect for Modi. “We may not agree with some of his policy decisions. But we cannot deny his integrity and honesty of purpose,” he had said.

–IANS

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New Zealand took nine wickets in a dramatic last session to seal a 2-0 series whitewash as Pakistan’s cricket team collapsed against the second new ball to slump to a 138-run defeat at the Seddon Park.

When the final session began, the draw seemed the likeliest result by far, and a New Zealand win perhaps less likely than a Pakistan win.

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With a minimum of 34 overs left, Pakistan needed 211, with nine wickets in hand. Those nine wickets fell in the space of 24.3 overs, the last six to the second new ball in the space of 11 overs.

Pakistan had chased down two 300-plus targets in the last two years, both times against Sri Lanka — 302 in two sessions in Sharjah, and 377 in Pallekele. But here on Tuesday, chasing 369, Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam added 131 for the first wicket in 60 overs to set them a platform for a similar finish.

But that was not to be as Neil Wagner polished off the tail quickly after Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee did the work at the top.

Sami Aslam did his cause a world of good with a fighting 91 runs with Azhar Ali also chipping in with 58. But once those two fell, it was downhill for the visitors.

Brief scores: New Zealand 271 & 313 beat Pakistan 216 & 230 all out (Sami Aslam 91, Azhar Ali 58; Neil Wagner 3/57) by 138 runs.

IANS