Cricket With Arslan

06/12/2025

Shoaib Akhtar made his international debut in 1997. Brian Lara, already a modern batting giant, played his last international match in 2007.

Two of the biggest cricketing names of their era were active for almost ten years together. In between these ten years Pakistan and West Indies faced each other 37 times ( 27 times in ODIS and 10 times in tests) Yet unbelievably, Shoaib Akhtar and Brian Lara came face to face only once.

That moment came in the 2004 Champions Trophy, Pakistan vs West Indies.

Lara walked in to bat, and the whole stadium buzzed. The world was ready to witness a dream battle:

The Rawalpindi Express vs The Prince of Trinidad.

But that dream lasted only five balls.

Shoaib steamed in, bowling with serious pace and aggression. One delivery rose sharply, climbing into Lara and striking him painfully on the back of Lara head. Lara immediately dropped his bat, clearly hurt. The physio rushed in, but the injury was bad enough that Lara had to leave the field, retired hurt.

Shoaib, despite being a fierce competitor, showed pure sportsmanship by saying sorry after the game.

I'm sorry I hit him but it was honest bowling," said Shoaib, who along with the rest of the Pakistan side rushed straight to Lara the moment the ball hit him. "He is one of my favourite batsmen. I've played four series against West Indies but I've not had the chance to bowl to him since the start of my Test career."

01/12/2025

The story of Majid Khan and Dennis Lillee's hat incident is a classic tale of cricket's spirit of fair play and respect for the game.

During a Test match in Sydney, Lillee aimed to knock off Majid's hat, which he had been wearing as a symbol of his respect for the game.

Majid, a man of his word, offered Lillee his hat if he could knock it off. Lillee, a fast bowler known for his aggressive style, was initially dismissive but was eventually bowled by a rising delivery that disturbed the hat, causing it to drop off Majid's head. Majid graciously handed over the hat to Lillee, demonstrating his respect for the game and the fast bowler. This moment is often cited as a perfect example of the "Spirit of the Game" and has become a cherished part of cricket lore.

As for the hat, Lillee claims to have had it whole for many years, until his wife decided it needed a wash and put it in the washing machine.

01/12/2025

Brian Close Facing Bouncer Barrage from Michael Holding.

22/10/2025

Shane Warne Giving Pakistani Youngsters some tips on art of Leg Spin Bowling

12/09/2025

30/08/2025

India faced Australia 7 times in 1998. Sachin Tendulkar was man of the match in 6 of them.

24/07/2025

Pakistan Cricket Team in England 1954.

How many can you name without googling ?

15/07/2025

This Wicket turned the match in England Favors. Pant could have finished the test quickly had he stayed on the crease more.

11/07/2025

Bicycle Warm Up.

18/06/2025

The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final, held on June 18, 2017, at The Oval in London, remains one of the most memorable matches in cricket history. It featured a high-stakes clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, with Pakistan entering the match as the underdogs. What followed was a remarkable display of dominance by Pakistan, as they defeated India by a staggering 180 runs, clinching their first-ever Champions Trophy title.

Batting first, Pakistan posted an imposing total of 338 for 4 in 50 overs. The star of the innings was Fakhar Zaman, who scored a brilliant 114 runs off 106 balls—his maiden ODI century—after being given a reprieve early in his innings due to a no-ball. His aggressive batting set the tone for the innings, well-supported by Azhar Ali (59) and Mohammad Hafeez, who smashed a quick 57 not out towards the end. India’s bowling attack, which had performed well throughout the tournament, struggled to contain the flow of runs.

In response, India’s chase faltered early. Mohammad Amir, delivering one of the most iconic spells in modern cricket, dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan within the first nine overs. With the top order dismantled, India never recovered. Although Hardik Pandya played a fighting knock of 76 runs off 43 balls, his run-out ended any hopes of a miraculous comeback. India was bowled out for just 158 runs in 30.3 overs.

Fakhar Zaman was named Man of the Match for his game-changing century, while Hasan Ali—who picked up 3 wickets in the final and finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets—won the Golden Ball and Man of the Tournament. Shikhar Dhawan received the Golden Bat for being the highest run-scorer of the tournament with 338 runs.

This match also set a record for the largest margin of victory (180 runs) in the final of any ICC ODI event. More than just a trophy win, it was a statement performance by a resurgent Pakistan team that had been ranked lowest at the start of the tournament. Their journey included wins over South Africa, Sri Lanka, England (in the semi-final), and finally, India. The final marked a turning point for Pakistan cricket, with young talents like Zaman and Hasan Ali establishing themselves on the world stage.

The 2017 Champions Trophy Final wasn’t just a cricket match—it was a historic moment etched forever in the memory of fans, especially Pakistani supporters around the world.

06/06/2025

Brett Schultz Spell vs India 1992

Brett Schultz Solitary One Day. 1st Spell vs India Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) 1992