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West Indies tour is an opportunity for us to leave a mark: Javeria Khan

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LAHORE, Jun 29 (APP): Pakistan national women’s cricket team’s third tour of the year will commence tomorrow, Wednesday when they play West Indies in the first of the three T20Is at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

They have made trips of the Caribbean islands for three ODI series, two T20I series and two ICC Women’s T20 World Cups in the past but the first T20I will see them play on Antiguan soil for the first time.

There is not much of a difference between the two sides on the ICC’s rankings for Women’s T20I teams as Pakistan are placed seventh and their opponents are sixth. Javeria Khan, the captain of the national women’s team, is optimistic that the hard yards her players put in during the preparation for this tour will bear fruit.

“The women’s game has suffered a great deal in the post-pandemic world,” Javeria, Pakistan’s second most successful batter in the format with 1,882 runs, said Tuesday on the eve of the match. “But this tour is another great initiative from the Pakistan Cricket Board to keep the women’s game relevant in the country and keep the players involved.

“We come in this series after undergoing intense training camps in Multan and Karachi. Those camps were extremely important for all the players. Because of the lockdowns in different parts of the country, the sports activities had come to a complete halt. The camps provided a great opportunity for the cricketers to practice in hard and tough environment, in accordance with the demand of international cricket.

“West Indies are a quality opposition and they will be eager to do well at home. We, however, see this as an opportunity to do well and leave a mark. This team has got the potential to do it. Each and every player has worked hard to get here and come the day, I remain optimistic that they will rise to the challenge.”

Pakistan have favourable memories of their last encounters with West Indies. They came back from behind in February 2019 to beat them 2-1 in ODIs in the ICC Women’s Championship in what was their first-ever ODI series win over them. In their most recent T20I encounter in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, they secured an easy eight-wicket win.

Javeria said, “As athletes we do take inspiration from our past achievements, but every day brings new sets of challenges and we – both collectively and at individually – should be ready to surmount them.”

What further add to the significance of this tour is the fact that for the first time in the history of Pakistan women’s cricket, an ‘A’ team is accompanying the national side. The ‘A’ side will play their West Indian counterparts in three T20s – which will precede the T20Is – and three one-day matches. Sidra Nawaz, who boasts an experience of 52 T20I matches, will lead the ‘A’ team in T20s.

The team management will be selecting squads ahead of each match for the national and ‘A’ teams from the squad of 26. Javeria is hopeful that the players who have remained at the fringes of the national side will make the most of the six matches.

“That the ‘A’ team is also touring with us is a great sign for the growth and development of the women’s game in the country and it promises to put our sport in a healthy position. It had been a while since our upcoming cricketers had played competitive international cricket. This will be the first time they will be in action in the post-pandemic world.

“My message to the youngsters is to go out there and express themselves. Enjoy the moments, look for opportunities, and grab them with both hands since good performances potentially will be rewarded with berths in the national side on the tour.”

The T20I series between the two national teams will be followed by five ODIs.

Pakistan squad for the tour:
Javeria Khan (captain, national team), Rameen Shamim (One-Day captain, ‘A’ team), Sidra Nawaz (T20 captain, A team), Aliya Riaz, Aiman Anwar, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Jaweria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Kaynat Hafeez, Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nahida Khan, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and Syeda Aroob Shah.

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Jahangir Khan – The King of Squash

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Jahangir Khan is a man whose name is synonymous with squash. A man universally recognised as the world’s greatest ever player and an athlete who transcended his sports to be acknowledged as world’s greatest ever sportsman. A man who set the bar so high, precious few others have come close, never mind surpass his achievements.

Youngest World Amateur Champion (aged 15) Youngest British Open & World Champion (aged 17) Unbeaten in 555 consecutive matches over 5 years and 8 months – the longest winning streak of any sportsman 10 time British Open Champion (1982-1993) 6 time World Champion Played the longest squash match in history (2 hours, 46 minutes)

Through courage, determination and personal sacrifice, Jahangir Khan overcame personal tragedy to dominate and ultimately transcend the world’s most physically demanding sport.Throughout his record breaking career, Jahangir Khan used and was synonymous with only one brand.

Jahangir Khan was born in Karachi, Pakistan on the 10th December 1963 amd is considered to be the greatest player in the history of squash.

Jahangir Khan is originally from Neway Kelay Payan, Peshawar. During his career he was ranked World No.1 and won the World Open six times and the British Open a record ten times.

From 1981 to 1986, Jahangir was unbeaten and during that time won 555 consecutive matches – the longest winning streak by any athlete in top-level professional sport as recorded by Guinness World Records.

Jahangir retired from the Men’s Professional World Squash Tour 1993 and served as President of the World Squash Federation (WSF) from 2002 to 2008 when he became Emeritus President.

Jahangir was coached initially by his father Roshan and then by his late brother Torsam and cousin Rahmat who would go on to coach Jahangir throughout his record breaking career.

As a child Jahangir was physically very weak and despite doctors advising him not to take part in any sort of physical activity his father encouraged him to play their family game following a couple of hernia operations.

After missing out on selection for the Pakistan team for the 1979 World Championships in Australia, Jahangir entered the World Amateur Individual Championship and at 15 years-of-age became the youngest ever winner of the prestigious championship.

In November 1979, Jahangir’s older brother Torsam died suddenly of a heart attack during a tournament match in Australia. Torsam’s death affected Jahangir greatly and led to him considering quitting the game. However, Jahangir was determined to pursue a career in the sport as a tribute to his brother.

Most Notable Achievements:
Won World Amateur Championships at age 15
Youngest ever World Open Champion (aged 17)
Unbeaten in 555 consecutive matches over 5 years and 8 months
Record 10 time British Open Champion (1982-1991)
Six-time World Open Champion
First player to win World Open Championship without dropping a game
Played the longest match in the squash history 2 hours and 46 minutes
Five-year unbeaten run

In 1981, Jahangir became the youngest winner of the World Open at the age of 17 when he beat the then World No.1 Geoff Hunt Australia in the final. That championship marked the start of an unbeaten run which lasted for five years and 555 matches.

Jahangir was distinguished for his incredible fitness and stamina which Rahmat Khan helped him develop through a punishing training and conditioning regime. Jahangir was widely regarded as the fittest player in the sport.

In 1982, Jahangir astounded everyone when he won the International Squash Players Association (ISPA) Championship without losing a single point.

Jahangir’s unbeaten run finally came to end in the final of the 1986 World Open in France when he lost to Ross Norman of New Zealand. Norman had been chasing Jahangir’s unbeaten streak after being beaten time and time again. Norman was famously quoted “One day Jahangir will be slightly off his game and I will get him”.

Speaking about his unbeaten sequence of 555 consecutive matches, Jahangir said: “It wasn’t my plan to create such a record. All I did was put in the effort to win every match I played and it went on for weeks, months and years until my defeat to Ross Norman in Toulouse in 1986.”

“The pressure began to mount as I kept winning every time and people were anxious to see if I could be beaten. In that World Open final, Ross got me. It was exactly five years and eight months. I was unbeaten for another nine months after that defeat.”

At the end of 1986, compatriot Jansher Khan challenged Jahangir’s domination. Jahangir won their first few encounters in late 1986 and early 1987, but Jansher finally scored his first win over Jahangir in September 1987 with a straight games victory in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open.

Jansher then went on to beat Jahangir in their next eight consecutive encounters, including capturing the 1987 World Open title.

Jahangir managed to end Jansher’s winning streak over him in March 1988 and went on to win 11 of their next 15 meetings. The pair met in the 1988 World Open final with Jahangir emerging the victor. By that point it had become clear that squash now had two dominant players and the pair would continue to dominate the sport for the rest of the decade.

Jansher and Jahangir met a total of 37 times in professional competition with Jansher winning 19 matches, and Jahangir taking 18 matches.

Jahangir did not win the World Open after 1988 but was able to maintain a stranglehold over the prestigious British Open title which he won a record ten successive times between 1982 and 1991.

Jahangir retired from the professional World Tour in 1993 after helping Pakistan win the World Team Championship in Karachi. He was honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the awards of Pride of Performance and civil award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Distinction) for his achievements in squash. Jahangir was also named Sportsman of the Millennium in Pakistan.

“Hashim Khan, Jahangir Khan, and Jansher Khan are the best squash players the world has ever known with Jahangir the best of the three. If Hollywood only knew his story of tragedy, grit and determination it would make another movie like Chariots of Fire. Many of those who know him consider him the best athlete who ever lived.”Former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf

In 1990, Jahangir was elected Chairman of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and in 1997 Vice-President of the Pakistan Squash Federation. Jahangir was elected as Vice-President of the World Squash Federation (WSF) in November 1998 and in October 2002 was elected WSF President. In 2004, Jahangir was again unanimously re-elected as President of the WSF at the International Federation’s 33rd Annual General Meeting in Casa Noyale, Mauritius.

Jahangir Khan was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by London Metropolitan University for his contributions to the sport. As a result of his complete dominance in squash he was nicknamed “The Conqueror”

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Roshan Khan – A Squash Icon of Pakistan.(26 November 1929 – 6 January 2006)

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Roshan Khan, a name etched in the annals of squash history, remains an iconic figure renowned for his exceptional skill, sportsmanship, and pivotal contributions to the world of sports. Born on November 26, 1929, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Roshan Khan’s journey from a squash prodigy to a global legend is a testament to his unparalleled talent and dedication

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Khan’s squash career unfolded in an era when the sport was flourishing in Pakistan, and he emerged as a dominant force, setting new standards of excellence. His innate talent, combined with unwavering determination, propelled him to the forefront of the squash world, where he became a trailblazer.

His remarkable achievements and distinctive style of play made him a formidable opponent on the court. Khan’s tactical prowess, agility, and swift movements were renowned. He possessed an uncanny ability to outmaneuver opponents, displaying finesse and precision that mesmerized audiences and competitors alike.

Khan’s impact extended beyond individual victories; he was an integral part of the Pakistani squash dynasty that dominated the sport globally. Alongside his cousins, Azam Khan and Mo Khan, Roshan Khan propelled Pakistan to squash supremacy, securing multiple championship titles and accolades.

The pinnacle of Khan’s illustrious career came in the 1950s and 1960s, where he triumphed in prestigious tournaments, including the British Open. His victories not only solidified his legacy but also elevated Pakistan’s standing in the world of squash.

Beyond his prowess on the court, Khan was revered for his sportsmanship and humility. His demeanor both on and off the court earned him respect and admiration worldwide. He became a role model for aspiring squash players, inspiring a generation with his dedication, discipline, and grace.

Even after retiring from professional play, Roshan Khan continued to contribute to the sport, nurturing young talent and advocating for squash development in Pakistan. His commitment to the game remained unwavering until his passing on January 6, 2006, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire squash enthusiasts globally.

Roshan Khan’s name remains synonymous with excellence, his contributions to squash immortalized in the history of the sport. He stands as a testament to the heights that dedication, talent, and passion can reach, leaving an indelible mark on the world of sports and serving as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

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ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets

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In the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at Hyderabad in India on Tuesday.

Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 344 runs for the loss of nine wickets in allotted fifty overs.

For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis with 122 runs and Sadeera Samarawickrama with 108 remained the main scorers.

In reply, Pakistan achieved the target in 48.2 overs for the loss of four wickets.

For Pakistan, Abdullah Shafique scored 113 and Muhammad Rizwan made 131 runs.

Muhammad Rizwan was declared player of the match. 

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