Hashim Khan, the first great squash champion from Pakistan began his squash career as a ballboy during colonial times.He went on to win the prestigious British Open title seven times.In what is considered a young man’s game,Hashim’s titles came when he had reached middle age.
His younger brother Azam Khan,though overshadowed by Hashim won the British [...]
Pakistan’s World Cup campaigns have had their share of dramatic moments.The World Cup was held for the very first time in 1975.Pakistan squandered a golden opportunity to defeat the eventual champions,the West Indies.West Indies were nine wickets down with over 50 runs to get,when the last wicket pair of Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts,defying expectations [...]
Of late,the controversies surrounding Pakistan cricket never seem to stop.A bumbling administration,a team which disappoints all too frequently ,the shadow of spot fixing,frequent changes of captain and players,disastrous results on the field,fines and bans on players and if all that were not enough,now there is a cricketer (Zulqarnain Haider) on the run claiming that he [...]
Ted Turner,the founder of CNN once said that before entering the news business,he used to dislike the news as most of it was unpleasant.But he did create CNN and the rest is history.His success inspired many imitators around the globe.There was a time when entertainment programmes were the bread and butter of TV channels.Now however,news [...]
It was during the 1954 English summer that the then babes of international cricket,Pakistan,made their presence felt.Fazal Mehmood bowled Pakistan to a memorable victory at the Oval.But then came the drought.For 28 years,Pakistan could not win a test against England.
In 1962,Pakistan lost 0-4,in 1967,0-2,in 1971 0-1,in 1978 0-2.
Then came the memorable Lord’s test of 1982.Mohsin [...]
Indian movies are ubiquitous in Pakistan.On cable,in cinema houses and in DVD shops on every street.Piracy of Indian movies has become a booming industry in this country.Bollywood gossip is a staple of cable TV shows and the mainstream Pakistani press.
Strange when one considers that Pakistan and India are two countries which have fought wars .Yet the people [...]
Let’s face it,English is the bane of the existence of many Pakistani students. But in Pakistan,it is the passport for advancement,it is the official language and it assumes ever greater significance because of the effects of globalisation.But the vast majority of Pakistani students struggle with it.It is not their mother tongue.It doesn’t help matters that a [...]
Not so long ago, Yusuf, Younis and Malik were banned.Afridi and the Akmal brothers were fined.Everyone who had the misfortune to captain the current Pakistan side was handed some form of punishment. Makes one wonder why anyone would want to be captain of this side.It is a crown of thorns.
The players fought among themselves. Afridi bit [...]
Eversince the arrival of a zillion plus cable channels,I hardly watch TV. To begin with,I can’t stand the onslaught of mind numbing commercials. Then,there is the question of quality.As I look at the never ending parade of serials on the cable channels,there is a strong feeling of nostalgia for the excellent drama series produced by [...]
April 10,1988, a day that remains etched in memory. Impossible to forget. It happened when terror attacks had not become as numbingly routine as they have today. That fateful day began in Rawalpindi and Islamabad just like any other day. People started going to offices and schools. Then suddenly,some ominus sounds were heard. One blast,then another, then another, [...]
