Connect with us

Sports

Pakistan cricket’s elder statesman Wazir Mohammad dies at 95 | The Express Tribune

Published

on

Pakistan cricket’s elder statesman Wazir Mohammad dies at 95 | The Express Tribune



PARIS:

Wazir Mohammad, the last surviving link to the start of Pakistan’s journey as a Test nation, has died at the age of 95, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Monday.

Over the course of 20 Tests between 1952 and 1959, he only scored 801 runs as a middle-order batsman at an average of just over 27 but he played key roles in three of Pakistan’s earliest benchmark wins.

“My Test record might not be very impressive but it gives me a great sense of pride that I made vital contributions in most of Pakistan’s maiden Test victories,” he said in an interview in 2010.

He was the eldest of five cricketing brothers, four of whom played Test cricket.

The PCB paid tribute to former Test batter Wazir Mohammad by posting on social media, “The PCB is deeply saddened by the passing of former Pakistan Test batter Wazir Mohammad. One of the four Mohammad brothers to represent Pakistan in Test cricket, he featured in 20 matches for his country from 1952 to 1959. The PCB extends its heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

Born in Junagadh, India, on December 22, 1929, Wazir was soon joined by Raees, the only brother not to play for Pakistan, Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq.

The partition of India in 1947 prompted the family to pack up and move to Karachi.

“The migration to Pakistan was an adventure,” recalled Wazir.

“My father, an uncle and I came before the rest of the family by sea. The small ship was overloaded and very unstable. All the time we feared the vessel might capsize.”

Wazir joined the Pak Mughal Cricket Club in Karachi and when Pakistan was granted Test status in 1952, he was named in the squad for a three-Test tour of India under the captaincy of Abdul Hafeez Kardar.

He played just the one Test, the third in Brabourne, while his brother Hanif Mohammed played all five as opener and wicketkeeper, scoring three fifties and laying the foundation for a career of epic status.

Hanif became known as the ‘Little Master’ with a Test highest of 337 and a first-class best of 499 for Karachi, a world record total only since exceeded by Brian Lara.

“Even during my playing days, I was often introduced as Hanif’s elder brother,” Wazir said.

“But I never felt embarrassed. Rather I was proud of him.”

In fact Wazir played his part in both of those defining innings, sharing century partnerships with his brother on each occasion.

– West Indies century –

The first of Wazir’s three key innings for Pakistan came at The Oval in 1954 when his watchful 42 not out, the highest individual score in a low-scoring game, enabled Pakistan to scratch enough of a total to defend in the fourth innings.

Fazal Mahmood cleaned up with 12 wickets in the match to secure a 24-run win, making Pakistan the first team to win a Test on their maiden tour of England.

During the course of the innings he used a ruse to fool the English field. After Brian Statham hit him on the toe, he exaggerated the injury, limping between balls making it seem worse than it was.

This encouraged wicketkeeper Godfrey Evans to tell Len Hutton, the England captain, to instruct the quick bowlers to keep aiming for yorkers in order to unsettle Wazir.

“The uncovered wicket had been badly affected by rain and even good-length balls were popping up awkwardly,” said Wazir.

“The yorkers were easier to play. I continued pretending my foot was in great pain. It all helped me settle down and score.”

His first innings 67 in Karachi in 1956 played a major role in Pakistan’s first win over Australia.

And in March 1958, he made 189 in the fifth Test in Port of Spain, sharing a partnership of 154 with brother Hanif, to set up Pakistan’s first win in the West Indies.

This was the culmination of his finest series as he also made 106 in the third Test and 97 not out in the fourth.

His penultimate Test in Lahore in March 1959 marked the debut of another of his brothers Mushtaq Mohammed who would go on to play 57 Tests and captain Pakistan.

Youngest brother Sadiq Mohammad only played the first of his 41 Tests in 1969 while nephew Shoaib Mohammad, son of Hanif, took Pakistan’s greatest cricket dynasty into a new generation, playing 45 Tests and 63 one-day internationals in the 1980s and 90s.



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Brewers player ripped for avoiding hit-by-pitch that would have tied game: ‘All he had to do was stand there’

Published

on

Brewers player ripped for avoiding hit-by-pitch that would have tied game: ‘All he had to do was stand there’


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

When Brice Turang moved out of the way of a 1-2 breaking ball Monday night, just about everyone watching thought to themselves, “Wear it.”

The bases were loaded for the Milwaukee Brewers with the tying run on third in the bottom of the ninth. Had Turang not moved out of the way, the Brewers very likely would have tied the game.

But instincts got to him, and one pitch later, Turang swung at a ball out of the zone to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers strikes out during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on Oct. 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Social media users, most of whom have never seen an 85 mph sweeper at their legs, were quick to call out Turang for the supposed brain fart.

“All he had to do was stand there and not move,” wrote one X user.

Another critic called it “probably the lowest iq (at-bat) I’ve ever seen.”

“Dude had one job,” added one more.

“Today’s players just don’t use common sense,” said another.

Turang said he had instant regret when he moved out of the way.

“Well, if you see me look in the dugout, I’m thinking, ‘Damn,'” Turang said. “I know it. Everybody knows it. I couldn’t tell you why I did it. I just got out of the way. That’s just how it is.”

Brewers manager Pat Murphy defended his player.

Brice Turang reacts

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang strikes out with the bases loaded during the ninth inning of their National League Championship Series game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Oct. 13, 2025, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1. (Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

BREWERS PULL OFF ASTONISHING DOUBLE PLAY AGAINST DODGERS IN NLCS

“When the ball is coming towards you, your natural thing, it’s a breaking ball, your natural thing is to do that,” Murphy said. “And I know he was thinking the same thing after the ball passed. It happens. He’ll learn from that situation. But it’s hard. Even if you try to maneuver yourself, it’s hard to get hit by the pitch because it’s so reactionary.”

There were plenty of other defenders that snuck through the social media toughness.

“Even if I knew a pitch was going to hit me I don’t think I could convince my mind and body not to avoid it,” one wrote.

“Reflexes suck sometimes…” wrote another.

Will Smith and Blake Treinen

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) and relief pitcher Blake Treinen (49) react after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers during Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field.  (Benny Sieu/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Blake Snell spun a gem, tossing eight innings of scoreless, one-hit ball as the Brewers’ valiant comeback in the ninth fell just short.

Game 2 will take place in Milwaukee on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Ranking all 32 NFL teams entering Week 7 of the season

Published

on



The Chiefs retake the No. 1 spot, while the Bucs remain lower than their record suggests.



Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Bijan Robinson fuels Falcons in MNF win against Bills

Published

on

Bijan Robinson fuels Falcons in MNF win against Bills


ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. made all the plays necessary in his “Monday Night Football” debut and had plenty of help from running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London en route to the Atlanta Falcons beating the Buffalo Bills 24-14 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Penix, the second-year quarterback, was 20-of-32 for 250 yards passing and a touchdown. Robinson had 170 yards rushing, including an 81-yard touchdown run, and another 68 receiving. London had 10 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown. It was the second time Robinson and London each had 150 yards and a touchdown as teammates in their careers. They’re the only Falcons teammates to do it more than once since the 1970 merger, per ESPN Research.

Atlanta’s defense might have been even better than its offense. The Falcons forced the Bills into four three-and-outs, which was double Buffalo’s highest single-game total of the season coming in, and sacked quarterback Josh Allen four times.

Here are the most important things to know from Monday night for both teams:

play

0:22

Drake London steps out of bounds just before hitting pylon

Drake London appears to dive for a touchdown, but his foot lands out of bounds a yard short for the Falcons as time expires in the first half.

Is Robinson the leading contender for NFL Offensive Player of the Year? What Robinson has done early this season is remarkable. The third-year running back has more yards from scrimmage through five games than any other player in Falcons history. His 138 rushing yards at the half were the most by any player in the league after two quarters this season. Robinson came into the game leading the league with 146 yards from scrimmage per game — and then put up 238 on Monday night, the second-highest total in the league this season. Robinson is the second player to reach 450 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards through his first five games of a season in NFL history, joining Thurman Thomas in 1991, according to ESPN Research.

Trend to watch: The Falcons were without two of their top three wide receivers in Darnell Mooney (hamstring) and Ray-Ray McCloud III (healthy scratch). McCloud’s absence was a surprise. It forced the Falcons to rely heavily on two skill players: Bijan Robinson and Drake London, who combined for 89% of the team’s yardage in the first half and came in with the highest percentage of their team’s scrimmage yardage (57%) out of any duo in the NFL, according to ESPN Research.

Stat to know: The Falcons’ 335 yards in the first half were their most before halftime since 2009. For the first time in Falcons franchise history, the team had a running back and wide receiver — Robinson and London, respectively — eclipse the 100-yard mark in the first half. — Marc Raimondi

Next game: at San Francisco (8:20 p.m. ET, Oct. 19)


play

0:23

Bills comes up with a huge blocked field goal

Parker Romo goes to kick a field goal for Atlanta, but the Bills comes through with a big block.

The frustration was visible from quarterback Josh Allen, who pushed his helmet to the ground as he sat on the bench once again after failing to string together a drive in the middle of the fourth quarter.

The struggles persisted in Monday’s game at Atlanta as the Bills (4-2) suffered their second straight loss. Though the defense was sloppy and gave up too many yards, the offense failed to take advantage of opportunities. In the first half, the Bills punted on four straight drives, and though they scored a touchdown on their first drive of the second half, the spark didn’t linger. They turned the ball over on downs, giving the Falcons the ball back at their 47-yard line. And even when the Bills blocked a field goal attempt, the offense responded with back-to-back three-and-outs.

Allen finished the game 15-for-26 (57.7%) with 180 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions and 4 sacks. He also rushed for 42 yards on six carries. Tight end Dalton Kincaid (oblique) was inactive, and wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) was injured in the first half and didn’t return. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady went away from running back James Cook III late in the game and did not use him on third downs despite Cook rushing for 87 yards on 17 carries.

After starting the season scoring 30-plus points in the first four games, the Bills’ offense has work to do.

Where does the Bills’ offense go from here? The question starts to become, do the Bills need to acquire help on on offense once again, albeit coming off a game against one of the league’s top defenses? Last season, the Bills traded for wide receiver Amari Cooper before the trade deadline, and the lack of support around Allen has led to that seeming like a possibility again. Allen was pressured on 47.1% of his dropbacks vs. the Falcons, the highest rate since the 2020 AFC Championship Game (47.4%). Right now, this is an offense searching for answers and help might be needed.

Trend to watch: Injuries. The Bills came into this game with two starters — linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (oblique) — out because of injuries. Before the game, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones suffered a calf injury in warmups and was ruled out. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) left the game in the first half, linebacker Terrel Bernard didn’t play in the second half because of an ankle injury, and safety Cole Bishop missed time in the second half because of cramping, but returned in the fourth quarter. The Bills have a bye this coming week, and it couldn’t come at a better time for much-needed rest.

Best quote out of the locker room: Left tackle Dion Dawkins on what he feels like needs to be done for the offense to be consistent: “I wish I had an answer, because I would’ve said it today. But no one knows. We just got to just keep playing hard and keep being us. Protect our guy, protect, play, catch, pass, block, do what we do well and we’ll be A-OK. It sucks to lose, but once again, it’s not the end. It’s not the end. Even though it might feel like it.”

Stat to know: The Falcons’ 335 first-half yards were the most that the Bills have allowed before halftime since 2001 (Week 2, at Indianapolis Colts). Missed tackles were a major theme for the Bills’ defense, especially in the first half, but the unit adjusted well in the second half. The Falcons were held to 8 net yards in the third quarter and 109 net yards in the fourth. — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Carolina (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 26)



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending