Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) and its affiliated units celebrated World Judo Day across Pakistan on October 28th, commemorating the birthday of Jigoro Kano Shihan, the founder of judo, with the International Judo Federation's theme of "Wellbeing." This year, World Judo Day emphasizes "wellbeing," a holistic concept that extends beyond the tatami to every aspect of life. Judo, as a practice, promotes physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing, enhancing our quality of life. For over thirteen years, the PJF has been organizing World Judo Day to celebrate judo and the values it instills in society.The PJF held the 17th Men’s and 10th Women’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inter-District Judo Championship at the Lala Rafique Sports Arena under the auspices of the District Government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judo Association. Matiullah Khan, Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs KP, was the chief guest, accompanied by Pir Abdullah Shah, Additional Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs KP, and Saleem Raza, Director of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate. International athletes Malaika Noor and Mohammad Abbas also attended.Malaika recently became the first Junior female athlete from Pakistan to compete in an IJF event, while Mohammad Abbas showcased an impressive performance at the Asian Cadet & Junior Championship in Korea. PJF Secretary General Masood Ahmad, officials, and players joined the celebrations on October 28, embracing the theme of “Wellbeing.”In the Inter-District Championship, various districts from KP participated, including Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Swat, Abbottabad, Mardan, and Peshawar. Abbottabad claimed the women’s title with 85 points, followed by Lakki Marwat with 60 points. In the men’s category, Khyber District took first place with 93 points, while Peshawar finished second with 87 points.In Islamabad, the Islamabad Judo Association (IJA) celebrated by organizing an event with school students, who participated in cake cutting and received certificates. South Asian Gold Medalist Hamid Ali also joined the festivities.Following PJF’s instructions, the Sindh Judo Association held a World Judo Day event at the Gymnasium Hall in Karachi Coaching Center. Sindh Judo Association Secretary Mohammad Rafique and their judokas participated enthusiastically. Also in Sakhar were celebrated WJD along with Female Judoka (a district of Sindh).The Punjab Judo Association organized celebrations in Gujranwala District, with a large number of male and female judokas taking part. Secretary Punjab Judo Association Qamer Shakeel joined the students in cake cutting.World Judo Day was celebrated nationwide in a befitting manner, with the Pak-Army National Champion and Pak-WAPDA Runner-up teams also marking the occasion with a cake-cutting ceremony. Numerous male and female judokas across the country actively participated, learning about the history of judo and embracing its values.

Lahore (PR): The Misha & Ibrahim Polo Cup 2024, organized by the Lahore Polo Club, kicked off with great excitement. On the opening day, two thrilling matches were held, drawing a significant number of spectators and families. Lahore Polo Club President Malik Azam Hayat Noon, Executive Committee members, Secretary Col Amir, and other officials were present to witness the games. In the first match of the opening day, Diamond Paints defeated Seafa Logistics International with a score of 10-5½. Raja Jalal Arsalan was the standout player for Diamond Paints, hammering seven goals, while Mir Huzaifa Ahmed contributed with three goals. For Seafa Logistics International, Raja Samiullah converted all four goals for his team, with an additional handicap advantage of one and a half goals. In the second match of the day, Newage Cables triumphed over Guard Group with a score of 10-3½. Abdul Rehman Monnoo led the charge for Newage Cables, scoring six goals, while Omar Asjad Malhi added four goals. For Guard Group, Taimur Ali Malik scored two goals, and Ahmed Bilal Riaz added one goal. The tournament will continue on Wednesday, with Sheikhoo Steel facing Rijas/Platinum Homes at 2:30 pm, followed by Total Nutrition competing against FG/Din Polo at 3:30 pm. 

Sindh overcome Punjab by 81 runs, Badard Munir gets man of the match awardRasheed AhmedBAHAWALPUR: Sindh thrashed Punjab by 81 runs in the final of the 8th edition of PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024 here at Dring Stadium on Monday. Sindh batter Badar Munir was declared the best player of the match. Punjab, winning the toss, opted to bowl first, a decision that quickly became a challenging one as Sindh took to the crease. The outstanding opening partnership of Badar Munir and Mohammad Safdar set the stage for an explosive innings. Badar Munir showcased his exceptional batting skills, scoring a sensational century of 116 runs off just 62 balls, while Safdar supported with a solid 74 runs off 51 balls. Their partnership of 205 runs not only laid a strong foundation but also put Punjab in a nearly insurmountable position, leaving them to chase a formidable total of 220 runs. Mati Ullah was the standout bowler for Punjab, managing to secure 2 wickets.When Punjab began their chase, they faced a difficult battle against the disciplined Sindh bowling attack. They struggled to find their footing and eventually crumbled under pressure, bowled out for just 138 runs in 16.5 overs. Haroon Khan was the only player to show resilience, scoring 40 runs off 29 balls, while Nisar Ali contributed a modest 18 runs off 19 balls. Badar Munir's influence extended beyond his batting, as he picked up 3 crucial wickets, helping to dismantle the Punjab lineup. Babar Ali and Numan also contributed with the ball, claiming 2 and 1 wickets respectively.Tournament’s best awards:Mohammad Idrees Saleem (B1 Category)Badar Munir (B2 Category)Mati Ullah (B3 Category)Nisar Ali (Best Wicket Keeper) Mati Ullah (B3 Category)Nisar Ali (Best Wicket Keeper)Dignitaries Present:Ahmer Ali, Additional Deputy Commissioner, (Finance) Bahawalpur.Syed Sultan Shah, President World Blind Cricket Ltd & Chairman PBCC.Syed Mohammad Salman Tariq Bokhari, Director Marketing PBCC.Anwar, Director Finance PBCC.Abdul Razzaq, Director Information & Coordination PBCC.Fawad Anwar, District Sports officer, Bahawalpur.Usman Saeed, President Bahawalpur Cricket Club of the Blind

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed Pakistan’s white-ball captain, while Salman Ali Agha has been named vice-captain as the selectors announced Pakistan’s squads for the ODI and T20I tours of Australia and Zimbabwe from 4 November to 5 December. Salman will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested under a workload management plan.The 32-year-old Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is to date, scoring 5,401 runs with four centuries and accounting for 143 dismissals behind the stumps. As he leads the team in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on 4 November, Rizwan will become Pakistan’s 31st captain. For the first T20I in Brisbane on 14 November, he will be the 12th to captain Pakistan in the format.Mohammad Rizwan siad: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Representing Pakistan on the global stage is the greatest privilege and to now be entrusted with leading such a talented and exciting group of players is a tremendous honour. Joining the ranks of some of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains truly is the icing on the cake.I am committed to giving my absolute best in this role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and my immensely talented teammates. Together, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters. Pakistan cricket holds immense potential across all formats and I am confident that, with the support of God Almighty, we will build on our recent success against England to achieve even greater heights in what promises to be a challenging and busy season of white-ball cricket.”PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi siad: “I want to extend my congratulations to Mohammad Rizwan on his appointment as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. I am confident that Rizwan’s leadership qualities, underpinned by his deep commitment and passion for the game, will help shape this talented team into a consistently successful unit. Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers and colleagues through his dedication and positive attitude, and I have no doubt that these qualities, combined with his game knowledge and performance, will inspire the next generation of Pakistan cricketers. The PCB has always been fully committed to supporting our players and staff, and we will continue to stand by Rizwan as he takes on this important role. We are optimistic that under his leadership, Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team will once again become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.”Pakistan squads for Australia and Zimbabwe tours: ODI SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah AfridiT20I SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman KhanODI SQUAD FOR ZIMBABWE: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab TahirT20I SQUAD FOR ZIMBABWE: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.

Rasheed AhmedBahawalpur (October 27, 2024): Punjab and Sindh have qualified for the final of PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024 after winning their respective semifinals at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur on Sunday. The final will be played on Monday at the same venue.Punjab beat Balochistan by 23 runs: In the morning match, Balochistan set a challenging target after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Despite an early setback with the loss of two quick wickets, Talha Iqbal and Moain Aslam played a pivotal role in stabilizing the innings. Their partnership of 87 runs for the third wicket proved crucial, allowing Balochistan to recover from the early turmoil. Talha Iqbal showcased an impressive performance, scoring a remarkable century with a blistering 103 runs off just 64 balls. Moain Aslam also made a valuable contribution with a quick 39 runs off 26 balls. Balochistan finished their innings with a solid total of 195 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs.In reply, Punjab encountered a difficult chase, managing to score 172 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Haroon Khan emerged as the top performer for Punjab, remaining unbeaten with 65 runs off 50 balls. Zafar provided support with a steady 30 runs off 30 balls. Despite their efforts, Punjab fell short of the target. Talha Iqbal, who excelled with the bat, also magic with the ball, claiming 2 wickets to help secure Balochistan's victory. Talha Iqbal got man of the match award.Sindh beat KPK by 6 wickets: In the last league match between Sindh and KPK, Sindh emerged victorious after a solid performance in both bowling and batting departments.KPK, batting first, posted a modest total of 175 runs for 6 wickets in their 20 overs. The highlight of their innings was Anees Javed, who scored an impressive 63 runs off 38 balls. Umar Draz contributed with a steady 27 runs off 26 balls. On the bowling side for Sindh, Muhammad Numan was particularly effective, taking 3 wickets, while Idrees and Badar contributed with 2 and 1 wicket respectively.In response, Sindh chased down the target comfortably, finishing their innings with 176 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in just 16.5 overs. Badar Munir was the star of the match, smashing a remarkable unbeaten 97 runs off only 49 balls, showcasing his batting prowess. Idrees Saleem supported the innings with a crucial 24 runs off 29 balls, helping to guide Sindh to a convincing 6-wicket victory. Badar got man of the match award.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Pakistan leveled the score 267 at the tea break against English after losing 8 batters in the 3rd Test match of the series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. Saud Shakeel score hundred to save the home side from a big damage.On Friday, duo of unbeaten left-handed batters, captain Shan Masood (16), and Saud Shakeel (16) resumed Pakistan’s first innings at 73 for 3 in 23 overs.England Batting (First innings) 267 all out in 68.2 oversZak Crawley (c Saim Ayub b Noman Ali) 29 runs (balls 43, 4x3, 6x0)Ben Duckett (lbw b Noman Ali) 52 runs (balls 84, 4x4, 6x1)Ollie Pope (lbw b Sajid Khan) 3 runs (balls 14, 4x0, 6x0)Joe Root (lbw b Sajid Khan) 5 runs (balls 6, 4x0, 6x0)Harry Brook (b Sajid Khan 5 runs (balls 14, 4x0, 6x0)Ben Stokes (c Agha Salman b Sajid Khan) 12 runs (balls 22, 4x1, 6x0)Jamie Smith (c Mohammad Rizwan b Zahid Mahmood) 89 runs (balls 119, 4x5, 6x6)Gus Atkinson (c & b Noman Ali) 39 runs (balls 71, 4x5, 6x0)Rehan Ahmed (b Sajid Khan) 9 runs (balls 14, 4x1, 6x0)Jack Leach (st Mohammad Rizwan b Sajid Khan) 16 runs (balls 21, 4x0, 6x0)Shoaib Bashir (not out) 1 run (balls 5, 4x0, 6x0)Pakistan Bowling: Sajid Khan (6 for 128), Noman Ali (3 for 88), Zahid Mehmood (1 for 44)Pakistan Batting (First Innings):Abdullah Shafique ( lbw b Shoaib Bashir) 14 runs (balls 27, 4x1, 6x0)Saim Ayub (c Root b Leach 19) 36 runs (balls 45, 4x1, 6x0)Shan Masood (c Pope b Shoaib Bashir) 26 runs (4x0, 6x0)Kamran Ghulam (b Atkinson) 3 runs (balls 9, 4x0, 6x0)Saud Shakeel (not out) 106 runs (balls 190, 4x4, 6x0)Mohammad Rizwan( lbw b Rehan Ahmed) 25 runs (balls 46, 4x1, 6x1)Salman Agha (lbw b Rehan Ahmed) 1 run (balls 9, 4x0, 6x0)Aamer Jamal (b Rehan Ahmed) 14 runs (balls 28, 4x1, 6x0)Noman Ali (LBW Shoaib Bashir) 45 runs (balls 84, 4x2, 6x1)Sajid Khan (not out)England Bowling: Jack Leach (1 for 68), Gus Atkinson (1 for 14), Shoaib Bashir (3 for 95), Rehan Ahmed (3 for 25)Match Officials:Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh)TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)Reserve Umpire: Faisal Afridi (Pakistan)Match Referee: Richie Richardson (West Indies)Pakistan (Playing XI): Shan Masood (Captain), Saud Shakeel (Vice Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafiq, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Kamran Ghulam, Sajid Khan, Nouman Ali, Aamir Jamal, Zahid Mehmood England (Playing XI): Ben Stoke (Captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckeet, Olli Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (Wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.   

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Duo of Pakistani tennis lads, Ahmad Nael Qureshi and Bilal Asim have advanced to the doubles final of the ITF J30 tournament after beating their opponent pair in semifinal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.According to Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF),the Pakistani pair secured their spot in the final by defeating Mohammed Alghafli (ARU) and Ghannam Alghannam (KSA) with a score of 6-3,7-5. Both players, from Ace Tennis Academy-Pakistan, have demonstrated exceptional talent, showcasing the expertise and dedication of Pakistan's emerging tennis talent.In addition to his doubles success, Bilal Asim delivered an outstanding performance in the singles quarterfinal, defeating Artem Semenov (RUS), the tournament’s top seed, who ranks among the top 300 junior players in the world. Bilal won the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and qualified for the singles Semifinals.Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President -PTF, congratulated Ahmad Nael Qureshi and Bilal Asim on their remarkable performances and extended his best wishes for the upcoming matches. He expressed confidence that the Pakistani duo would continue to work hard and secure the championship.

Lahore (October 24, 2024): The Sheheryar Malik Memorial Pakistan Open Tennis Championship 2024 saw intense action in the men's singles quarterfinals, where Muzamil Murtaza battled past veteran Aqeel Khan in a gripping three-set match, winning 6-7, 7-5, 6-4. The thrilling encounter kept spectators on edge at the Sports Board Punjab Tennis Academy, Nishtar Park Lahore on Thursday.Murtaza, who had a challenging start after losing the first set in a tiebreak, displayed remarkable resilience to overcome Aqeel Khan's experience and claim the win. The victory marks a significant step for Murtaza as he advances to the semifinals of the prestigious tournament.Joining Murtaza in the semifinals is Mohammad Abid, who comfortably dispatched Abubakar Talha with a straight-sets victory, 6-3, 6-3. Barkat Ullah also secured his place in the next round after Yousaf Khalil retired following a tight first set, ending 6-7. In another three-set thriller, Mohammad Shoaib Khan made a comeback after dropping the first set, defeating Abdullah Adnan 6-7, 6-0, 6-1 to complete the men's singles semifinal lineup.Ladies singles semifinals: Noor Malik triumphed over Sheeza Sajid 6-4, 6-2, while Ushna Sohail cruised past Mehaq Khokhar 6-0, 6-0 to set up an exciting final.Seniors 40+ doubles semifinals: Talha Waheed (Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd) and Sheheryar Salamat secured a 6-2, 6-3 win over Arif Feroze and Tariq Sadiq.Seniors 65+ semifinals: Waqar Nisar and Inam ul Haq beat Saeed Khan and Malik Imtiaz 6-3, 6-1, while Asad Niaz and Kamran Mir edged Brig Ghazanfar and M Babar 6-0, 6-4.Boys U-14 semifinals: Hassan Usmani defeated Ruhab Faisal 1-4, 4-2, 4-1, and Omer Jawas swept Abdur Rehman 4-0, 4-0. (Press Release): 

Report: Rasheed AhmedBahawalpur (October 24, 2024): Khyber Paktunkawa (KPK) and Balochistan defeated their opponents Sindh, andPunjab respectively in the 8th edition of the PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024 here at Dring Stadium on Thursday.Game-5 (KPK beat Sindh by 6 wickets):KP won the toss and opted to field first, sending Sindh in to bat. Sindh struggled to get going and managed to post a below-par total of 153/4 in their 20 overs. Despite steady contributions from Babar Ali, who top-scored with 34 runs, Sanaullah (30), Badar Munir (27), and Muhammad Safdar (24), Sindh's batters couldn’t accelerate as needed to set a challenging target. Hamza added a late 16 runs, but the team failed to capitalize on their starts. KP’s bowling was led by Muhammad Shahzeb, who took 2 wickets, while Anees Javed claimed 1 wicket, keeping Sindh's scoring in check.In reply, KP chased down the target comfortably, reaching 154/4 in just 18 overs to secure a 6-wicket victory. Kamran anchored the chase with an unbeaten 53 off 39 balls, supported by Sanwal's 44 runs. Salman contributed a crucial 26 not out. Babar Ali’s bowling efforts were a bright spot for Sindh, as he took all 4 wickets that fell during the chase, but it wasn’t enough to defend the modest total.Man of the Match: Babar AliGame-6 (Balochistan beat Punjab by 5 wickets): In an exhilarating conclusion to the match, the Balochistan Blind Cricket team showcased remarkable determination as they chased down a challenging target of 201 runs set by Punjab, winning the game on the very last ball of the 20th over.Punjab Blind batted first and posted an impressive total of 200/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was highlighted by Haroon Khan, who played a superb knock of 61 off 41 balls, anchoring the team's performance. Mati Ullah contributed 35 runs, while Nisar Ali added a valuable 32 off 24 balls. Zafar Iqbal chipped in with 20 runs, and Mohsin scored 26 to boost the total. Asif Khan and Ayub Khan each claimed a wicket for the bowling side, but Punjab's steady batting ensured a challenging target for their opponents.In response, Balochistan set out with a positive intent, led by Niamatullah, whose explosive innings of 84 off 53 balls pierced through the Punjab bowling attack. Moain Aslam played a pivotal role in the chase as well, smashing 70 runs off just 39 balls, keeping the required run rate within reach. However, the chase wasn't without its challenges. Balochistan lost wickets at crucial times, creating pressure, but the steady partnership between Niamatullah and Moain proved crucial.Haroon Khan, who had starred with the bat, also made vital contributions with the ball, taking 3 wickets, including the key scalp of Niamatullah, to swing the momentum back in Punjab's favor momentarily. Mohsin Khan chipped in with another wicket, but Balochistan responded well, maintaining their composure and looking to the end of the innings.As the final over approached, the tension mounted with Balochistan needing 11 runs to win in the last over. In a nail-biting finish, they managed to score the required runs on the last ball, sealing a thrilling victory by 5 wickets.Man of the Match: Niamatullah. 

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Thirty-two qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26™, 47 for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, 79 Nations League matches and 17 friendlies were played during the recent international window, making October 2024 a particularly busy month of football and one that has led to a number of changes in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking.The top three teams are also bunching up. Argentina (1st) are still on top, but their lead over France (2nd) and Spain (3rd) has been cut. England (4th), Brazil (5th) and Belgium (6th) have all held on to their positions. Portugal (7th, up 1) and Italy (9th, up 1) are the only climbers within the top ten, which is completed by the Netherlands (8th, down 1) and Colombia (10th, down 1), with Germany (11th, up 2) now knocking on the door.Elsewhere, Algeria (37th, up 4), Peru (38th, up 5) and Greece (42nd, up 6) have all made moves worthy of note, and Cameroon (49th, up 4) have returned to the top 50. Other African teams to have made significant progress in the ranking include Equatorial Guinea (88th, up 6), Zimbabwe (117th, up 7), The Gambia (128th, up 7) and Botswana (140th, up 7), the last of whom, the Zebras, have posted the biggest jump overall in terms of points gained (up 38.30 points).There is further cause for celebration for Africa as two other CAF teams have climbed the most places (ten) in this edition of the ranking, namely Comoros (108th) and Sudan (110th), who came out on top against Tunisia and Ghana, respectively, in their recent home-and-away duels as part of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers.