Tariq Saeed
{{short description|Pakistani cricket commentator}}
{{for|the Pakistani politician|Tariq Saeed (politician)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tariq Saeed
| native_name = طارق سعید
| birth_place = Sahiwall District
| nationality = Pakistani
| education = Forman Christian College
| occupation = Cricket commentator
Sports correspondent
| employer = Deutsche Welle
| known_for =
}}
Tariq Saeed ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|طارق سعید}}}}) is a Pakistani cricket commentator and sports correspondent. He was born in Sahiwal District in Punjab, approximately 112 km (70 miles) from Lahore. Since 2020,{{Cite web|title=PSL 2020 resumes with HD production|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Cricket/573273-PSL-2020-resumes-with-HD-production|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Dunya News}} he serves as one of the Urdu commentators in the Pakistan Super League.{{Cite web|title=PSL announces commentary panel for sixth edition of tournament|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/791416-psl-announces-commentary-panel-for-sixth-edition-of-tournament|access-date=2022-01-16|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}} Moreover, he has commentated in the National T20 Cup,{{Cite web|last=Srivastava|first=Kshitij|date=2021-10-10|title=T20 World Cup 2021: Watch - Pakistani TV Channel Gives Tribute To Shoaib Malik;Video Goes Viral|url=https://cricfit.com/t20-world-cup-2021-watch-pakistani-tv-channel-gives-tribute-to-shoaib-malikvideo-goes-viral/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Cricfit|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Women commentators change landscape of Pakistan cricket|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Cricket/568943-Women-commentators-change-landscape-of-Pakistan-cricket|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Dunya News}}{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=BR Web|date=2020-09-29|title=Commentary panel for National T20 Cup announced|url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40022231|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Brecorder|language=en}} and has also written Urdu match reports for the ESPNcricinfo.{{Cite web|title=Tariq Saeed {{!}} Cricket Author|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/author/tariq-saeed-196|access-date=2022-01-16|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}} He is also a sports correspondent for Deutsche Welle.{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=Is Pakistan safe for international cricket? {{!}} DW {{!}} 23.01.2013|url=https://www.dw.com/en/is-pakistan-safe-for-international-cricket/a-16545388|access-date=2022-01-17|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB}}
He is sometimes credited for reviving Urdu commentary in Pakistan.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-14|title=A bouncer that gave 'new life' to Urdu cricket commentary|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2338725/a-bouncer-that-gave-new-life-to-urdu-cricket-commentary-in-pakistan|access-date=2022-01-16|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Ghani|first=Faras|title=Tariq Saeed, the man reviving Urdu cricket commentary in Pakistan|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2022/1/14/tariq-saeed-urdu-commentary-pakistan-cricket|access-date=2022-01-16|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2022-01-09|title=Tariq Saeed: Artist behind the art of Urdu commentary|url=https://www.bolnews.com/sports/2022/01/tariq-saeed-artist-behind-the-art-of-urdu-commentary-2/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=BOL News|language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Born in Sahiwal, Saeed used to play cricket for the Forman Christian College team during his college days. While batting one day, a bouncer hit him just above his right eye, resulting in him leaving the game altogether. He then started commentating in domestic matches in Lahore.
Career
Tariq Saeed started his commentary career from Radio Pakistan. He has also worked with other sports TV channels in the country, including PTV Sports.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-12|title=Tariq Saeed denies rumours about doing commentary during T20 World Cup|url=https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/news/detail/tariq-saeed-to-commentate-on-behalf-of-indian-broadcaster-for-t20worldcup|access-date=2022-01-16|website=cricketpakistan.com.pk|language=en}} In addition to cricket commentary, Saeed has worked as a reporter for local Urdu newspapers and is a Deutsche Welle correspondent in Pakistan. He has also commentated on hockey matches and a Kabaddi World Cup final between India and Pakistan.
In January 2022, Saeed was part of an independent panel which selected the winners of the 2021 PCB Awards.{{Cite web|title=Rizwan, Babar, and Shaheen bag PCB Awards 2021|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/391947-rizwan-babar-shaheen-bag-pcb-award-2021|access-date=2022-01-17|website=www.geo.tv|language=en}} On 22 January 2022, he was announced as one of the commentators for the seventh edition of PSL.{{Cite web|title=PSL 2022: PCB unveils commentators for seventh edition of tournament|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/394668-psl-2022-pcb-unveils-commentators-for-seventh-edition-of-tournament|access-date=2022-01-22|website=www.geo.tv|language=en}}
Awards
Saeed has been nominated twice (in 2019{{Cite web|title=Pakistan Sports Awards 2019|url=https://sportsawards.pk/sports-awards/nominees/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Pakistan Sports Awards|language=en-US}} and 2021{{Cite web|title=Pakistan Sports Awards – 2021|url=https://sportsawards.pk/sports-awards/2020-2/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Pakistan Sports Awards|language=en-US}}) for the Commentator of the Year award at the Best Pakistan Sports Awards.