Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzak reunite during the Ice Cricket game

Shahid Afridi's Royals XI: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan), Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Graeme Smith (South Africa), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Nathan McCullum (New Zealand), Grant Elliott (New Zealand), Monty Panesar (England), Owais Shah (England), Matt Prior (England), Aidan Andrews (Switzerland).

Virender Sehwag's Diamonds XI: Virender Sehwag (India), Zaheer Khan (India), Mohammad Kaif (India), Ajit Agarkar (India), Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), Michael Hussey (Australia), Andrew Symonds (Australia), Mithun Manhas (India), Ramesh Powar (India), Rohan Jain (Switzerland).

Ice Cricket:Afridi's Royals Beat Sehwag's Badrutt's Palace On Lake St Moritz

St Moritz’s witnessed a special afternoon as legends of cricket rolled back the years to put up a spectacular show but this time on ice. Shahid Afridi-led Team Royals squared off against Virender Sehwag’s Badrutt’s Palace Diamonds in the first of the two encounters and it was the former Pakistan legend’s side who won the inaugural contest by six wickets. This was after the Diamonds batted first and set a target of 165 before the Royals cantered home, courtesy of a blistering 74 by Owais Shah.

There was Sehwag hitting those sixes at the backdrop of breathtaking Alpine range, Shahid Afridi's customary celebrations, Akhtar sledging Sehwag in jest -- every ingredient needed to make the event a success. The ground is basically the frozen St Moritz lake and the matting pitch fixed on a wooden plank. Pink ball is being used but as Sehwag wants at least T10 to be included in the Winter Olympics, it's still some way to go before it can even be considered a practical possibility. The biggest impediment is weather of sub-zero degree which forces every player to wear at least four to five layers of winter clothing, which impedes natural movements.

Virender Sehwag hit the first ball of ice cricket for a boundary

There was Sehwag hitting those sixes at the backdrop of breathtaking Alpine range, Shahid Afridi's customary celebrations, Akhtar sledging Sehwag in jest -- every ingredient needed to make the event a success. Virender Sehwag, in his prime, never had 'surface tension' and now at 40, with spectacles it still does not matter. Just like he had thrashed a young Shoaib Akhtar 10 years back on turf wickets , Akhtar was handed the same treatment in front of 500-odd spectators at the inaugural St Moritz Ice Cricket Challenge on Thursday. Mostly Asian expatriates and tourists along with a few bewildered locals trying to figure out what the game was all about were present. A Swiss sitting in the stands commented: "This game seems as relaxed as a game of golf. Very relaxed I must say."

Cricket on ice looks so fun to see

Earlier, the Diamonds won the toss and opted to bat first on an artificial turf carpet laid out on the perfectly laid out snowfield. Skipper Virender Sehwag led the charge with a quickfire 62 of 31 balls. Along with him, Andrew Symonds chipped in with a handy 40. For the Royals, Abdul Razzaq was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/18. However, the most entertaining aspect of the first innings was when Sehwag took on arch-rival Shoaib Akhtar. Enroute to his first half-century on the ice, The Sultan of Multan started the innings by cutting Shoaib Akhtar’s very first ball to score a boundary and then went on to make a dazzling 62. Team Diamond ended up with 166 runs in 20 overs.

Shahid Afridi picked 1st wicket in ICE Match

Cricket legends locked horns with each other on Thursday, only this time, the match is not being played on a regular pitch but on the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps. Shahid Afridi-led Royals face off against Virender Sehwag-led Diamonds in the unique two-day event where two matches are set to be played on ice.

The Diamonds, batting first, gave a target of 165 for the loss of nine wickets to Royals. Skipper Sehwag was the pick of the batsmen for the Diamonds with a score of 62 from 31 deliveries. Andrew Symonds chipped in with 40 from 30 deliveries. Abdul Razzaq picked up 4/18 while Shoaib Akhtar took 2/32 for the Royals. 

Cricket legends battle each other at Switzerland

The event, dubbed ‘St Moritz Ice Cricket 2018’ and already being hailed as the "best battle of cricket on top of the world", will take place against the serene and breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss mountains in freezing cold temperatures on February 8 and 9.

Along with Afridi and Sehwag, the event also features glittering names such as Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis, Zaheer Khan, Michael Hussey and others. Speedster Shoaib Akhtar couldn't wait to share his adventures in the snow.

Sehwag smashed quickfire fifty in ICE Cricket

Royals won the match after chasing down the target of 165 in 15.2 overs with Owais Shah scoring 74 runs. Sehwag scored 62 from 31 balls while Symond chipped in with 40 from 30 deliveries. Abdul Razzaq picked up 4/18 for the Diamonds while Akhtar took 2/3 for the Royals.

Skipper Sehwag was the pick of the batsmen for the Diamonds with a score of 62 from 31 deliveries. Andrew Symonds chipped in with 40 from 30 deliveries.

ICE Cricket:Palace Diamonds vs Royals

Shahid Afridi's Royals XI: Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan), Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Graeme Smith (South Africa), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Nathan McCullum (New Zealand), Grant Elliott (New Zealand), Monty Panesar (England), Owais Shah (England), Matt Prior (England), Aidan Andrews (Switzerland)

Virender Sehwag's Diamonds XI: Virender Sehwag (India), Zaheer Khan (India), Mohammad Kaif (India), Ajit Agarkar (India), Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), Michael Hussey (Australia), Andrew Symonds (Australia), Mithun Manhas (India), Ramesh Powar (India), Rohan Jain (Switzerland)

Afridi quickfire leads Pakistan defeat Bangladesh at Eden Gardens

 

 ICC World Twenty20 2016
14th Match, Group 2, Pakistan Vs Bangladesh
Eden Gardens, Kolkata, 16th March 2016

Toss - Pakistan won the toss elected to bat first

Umpires: Ian Gould, Richard Kettleborough
Third Umpire: Bruce Oxenford
Match Referee: Chris Broad

Pakistan Playing XI :  Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shahid Afridi (c), Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan

Bangladesh Playing XI: Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Arafat Sunny, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain

Match Summary

Pakistan 1st Innings 201 for 5 in 20 overs

Mohammad Hafeez 64

Ahmed Shehzad 52

Shahid Afridi 49

Taskin Ahmed 32/2

Arafat Sunny 34/2

Bangladesh 2nd Innings 146 for 6 in Overs

Shakib Al Hasan 50

Sabbir Rahman 25

Tamim Iqbal 24

Mohammad Amir 27/2

Shahid Afridi 27/2

Pakistan won by 55 runs

Man of the Match - Shahid Afridi