LAHORE (SBR) Pakistan’s top-ranked ITF senior tennis player, Rashid Malik, continued to demonstrate his exceptional prowess on the court, securing a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Husnain Mirza in the seniors 60+ singles quarterfinals of the RLK Group ITF Masters Championship 2024. Organised by the Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA), the prestigious tournament is underway at the Sports Board Punjab Tennis Academy, Nishtar Park, Lahore, showcasing remarkable talent from across the nation and beyond. Besides Malik, Nauman Aleem also secured a place in the seniors 60+ singles semifinals, with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6 victory against Tahir Butt. In the seniors 65+ singles quarterfinals, former Davis Cupper Inam ul Haq displayed his prowess, defeating Kh Abdul Muqeet 6-2, 6-2. M Babar followed with an impressive 6-0, 6-1 win over Raashed Zaheer. In the seniors 35+ singles quarterfinals, Inam Gul delivered a dominant performance, overpowering Mubeen Akram with a flawless 6-0, 6-0 victory. The seniors 40+ singles quarterfinals witnessed exciting matches as Kashif Rehmat comfortably defeated Sameer Noorani 6-2, 6-2, while Tariq Masih swept past Fazal Qadir Khan with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 scoreline. In the seniors 45+ singles quarterfinals, Ahmad Waqas Basit impressed with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 win against Umer Dilshad. Muhammad Asghar displayed resilience in his 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Ahsan Wali, while Shehryar Salamat cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Qadir Nawaz. The competition in the seniors 50+ singles quarterfinals was equally intense. Ahsan Razzaq defeated Mustafa Pirzada 6-2, 6-2, and Irfan Ullah Khan outplayed Anwar ul Haq 6-4, 6-3. In a gripping match, Munir Gill edged past Irfan Ahmad 6-0, 7-6, while Ashar Ali Khan overcame Pervez Hassan 7-6, 6-2. In the seniors 55+ singles quarterfinals, Imran Siddiqui advanced with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win over Kaffee Siddiqui. The seniors 70+ singles quarterfinals saw Christophe Bureau outlast Kh Khurram in a thrilling 6-4, 7-5 encounter, while M Saeed Ikram Ullah prevailed over Salah ud Din 6-1, 6-1. Finally, in the seniors 75+ singles, Dr Zulfqar Malik dominated Abdul Rauf with a comprehensive 6-0, 6-1 victory, further underscoring the high level of competition in the championship. The Punjab Lawn Tennis Association extends its gratitude to the RLK Group for their sponsorship, ensuring the success of this landmark event in Pakistan’s tennis calendar.

Green Shirts outclass Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the final; Nisar Ali wins "player of the match" awardSports Bulletin ReportMultan (December 3, 2024): Pakistan's blind cricket team defeated Bangladesh to clinch the title of the 4th T20 Blind Cricket World Cup. In the final held at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Pakistan secured a commanding 10-wicket victory, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament and winning the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup for the first time.Bangladesh, batting first after winning the toss, set a target of 140 runs, scoring 139 for 7 in their 20 overs. Arif Hussain scored 54 off 52 balls, while Mohammad Salman added 31 off 35 balls. Pakistan's Babar Ali took two wickets for 24 runs in his 4 overs.In reply, Pakistan chased down the target in just 10.2 overs without losing a wicket. Captain Nisar Ali led the charge with an unbeaten 72, while Mohammad Safdar contributed 47 runs.During the prize distribution ceremony, World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) President Syed Sultan Shah, alongside WBCC Director of Global Development Raymond Moxley, presented the winning trophy and a cash prize of PKR 1 million to Pakistan's captain Nisar Ali. Bangladesh's captain Ariful Islam received the runner-up trophy and a cash prize of PKR 500,000.Nisar Ali was named Player of the Match for the final, while Bangladesh's Arif Hussain was recognized as the Emerging Player of the tournament. In the individual categories, Bangladesh's Azmat Hussain was named the Best Player in the B1 category, Pakistan's Nematullah in the B2 category, and Sri Lanka's Dumat Sandruwan in the B3 category.

Multan (SBR): Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council, has been re-elected as the President of World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) for the upcoming two-year term. Rajanish Henry from India was successfully elected as the Secretary General. The 26th General Council meeting of the World Blind Cricket Council took place at a local hotel in Multan, with representatives from the cricket boards of Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan in attendance. Officials from India, England, and New Zealand participated online. Other elected officials include Nepal's Pawan Ghimire as First Vice President, South Africa's Isaac Bidla as Second Vice President, Australia's Raymond Moxley as Global Development Director, Pakistan's Tahir Mehmood Butt as Technical Director, and India's Chandrashekhar as Finance Director. South Africa’s Michael De Silva was elected as Assistant Secretary, Sri Lanka’s Sudesh Tharanga as Director of Public Relations, and the Regional Development Directors include Bangladesh’s Moin Iqbal for Asia and South Africa’s Ndumiso Nyawose for the African region.The members approved the minutes of the previous meeting. After being re-elected as the President of WBCC, Syed Sultan Shah thanked the cricket boards of all blind cricket-playing nations for re-electing him to the position. He expressed plans to introduce new reforms in blind cricket and take steps to promote the sport in countries like the United States and Kenya. New dark glasses for B1 players have been introduced. Syed Sultan Shah mentioned that Pakistan and India are among the top teams in world blind cricket and that both countries have a great working relationship. However, due to visa issues, the teams have not been able to play against each other. Therefore, it was decided that future World Cups and other international events would be held at neutral venues, allowing both countries to compete. The re-elected WBCC President also praised the services of former WBCC Secretary General Raymond Moxley for blind cricket. It was decided at the meeting that, going forward, no player can participate in international competitions without obtaining a site classification certificate from the International Blind Sports Association. 

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: An exciting new major competition, a world championship for squash players aged 22 and below, is to be played in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2025. The inaugural WSF U23 World Squash Championship will be hosted by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) and contested from 6-10 April 2025. It will feature a men's singles event and a women's singles event, with both championships having a draw size of 32 players. Entry in each event will be limited to a maximum of two representatives of a National Federation, and players will receive a share of a $60,000USD prize pot and PSA ranking points for participating.WSF CEO William Louis-Marie said: "The WSF U23 World Squash Championship represents a great development for the global squash community. It will give up and coming players from all over the world the opportunity to test their skills against the world's best, as well as provide an invaluable bridge between the WSF World Junior Championships and senior events. My thanks to President Zaheer Ahmad Babar and the rest of the PSF team for their enthusiasm and drive to host what will no doubt be a special event. Karachi is a great choice to host the first edition of the championships, with Pakistan famous for producing some of the finest athletes in the history of the sport, including our Emeritus President Jahangir Khan, as well as a promising grassroots scene."PSF Senior Vice President Kazim Hammad said: "The championship is a great step in the right direction. This new initiative will encourage young players to continue training for another 5 years to wear the coveted world crown. In the process there will certainly be a mushroom growth of talent which could have faded away. Pakistan squash will go all out to ensure this new venture is successful. I compliment Vice President of Pakistan Squash and President Sind Squash to have accepted the challenge and sponsored and hosted the Championship in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan Squash Federation President Zaheer Ahmad Babar complimented the PSF team and wished them well and assured both Pakistan Squash's and Sind Squash's full support in achieving their goals. He added that Pakistan Squash will continue to host major events with a vision to make Pakistan the future hub of squash championships.”

Sports Bulletin ReportCenturion (South Africa): England Women recorded a nine-wicket victory against South Africa in their final IT20 match of the series at SuperSport Park, Centurion.Heather Knight’s side headed into the match having sealed a series win after taking a 2-0 lead earlier this week. The tourists raced to their target of 125 with 51 balls to spare, opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge finishing unbeaten on 53 and Sophia Dunkley on 24 not out.Opener Maia Bouchier was England's only dismissal, caught by Nondumiso Shangase for 35 from 21 balls, after a quick 56 in 5.4 overs.England won the toss and chose to bowl. Anneke Bosch and Faye Tunnicliffe were dismissed by Lauren Filer and Lauren Bell respectively in the first two overs.The Proteas were 45-5 but Nadine de Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase hit a combined half century which proved a huge contribution to the total.Charlie Dean took 3-26 and a run out while Bell took two; Filer, Freya Kemp and Sophie Ecclestone with a wicket each. The two sides now contest a three-match ODI series, starting in Kimberley on Wednesday 4 December.T20i series:Sunday, 24 November: South Africa vs England – Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium, East London – England won by four wicketsWednesday, 27 November: South Africa vs England – Willowmoore Park, Benoni – England won by 36 runsSaturday, 30 November: South Africa vs England – SuperSport Park, Centurion – England won by nine wicketsODI series:Wednesday, 4 December: South Africa vs England – Kimberley Oval, KimberleySunday, 8 December: South Africa vs England – Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, DurbanWednesday, 11 December: South Africa vs England – JB Marks Oval, PotchefstroomTest match:15-18 December: South Africa v England - Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein

Multan (SBR): Pakistan and Bangladesh have stormed into the final of the 4th T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, while Sri Lanka and Nepal were eliminated from the race. The highlight of the semifinals included a record-breaking knock by Pakistan’s Kamran Akhtar, who smashed the fastest fifty in T20 Blind Cricket World Cup history. In the first semifinal at Multan Cricket Stadium, Pakistan won the toss and invited Nepal to bat first. Nepal managed 94 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their 20 overs, with Durga Datta top-scoring with 40 off 42 balls and Ramesh contributing 17 not out off 30 deliveries. Pakistan's Matiullah bowled brilliantly, taking three wickets for just five runs in his four overs. Pakistan's openers made short work of the target, reaching 95 runs without losing a wicket in just 5.3 overs. Kamran Akhtar showcased blistering form, scoring an unbeaten 63 off 21 balls, including one six and 12 boundaries. His half-century came off just 14 balls, setting a new record for the fastest fifty in T20 Blind Cricket World Cup history. Babar Ali supported him with an unbeaten 32. Kamran Akhtar was named player of the match, with the award presented by World Blind Cricket Council Secretary General Raymond Moxley alongside PBCC Chairman Syed Sultan Shah. The second semifinal saw Bangladesh edge past Sri Lanka in a nail-biting contest. Batting first, Bangladesh put up a formidable 244/6 in their 20 overs, with an additional six penalty runs awarded for a slow over rate by Sri Lanka. Mohammad Salman played a stunning innings, scoring 97 runs off 49 balls with 14 boundaries, while Arif Hussain contributed 81 runs off 56 balls, hitting 10 fours. In response, Sri Lanka fought valiantly, posting 238/4 in their 20 overs. Chandana led the charge with a brilliant 86 off 54 balls, and Dinesh added 35 off 28 balls. However, their efforts fell short by six runs. Mohammad Salman was declared player of the match for his match-winning performance. The final between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, at 11:00 am at Multan Cricket Stadium.

ISLAMABAD (SBR): Pakistan squash legend Jansher Khan has been inducted into the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Hall of Fame during a special induction evening at the Hong Kong Football Club last night.Held on the eve of the Hong Kong Squash Open, which will be held December 2-8, Khan and Malaysia's Nicol David became the third and fourth members of the PSA Hall of Fame, which was launched earlier this year to recognise the achievements of the game’s most influential characters, past and present.Khan and David have joined inaugural inductees Susan Devoy and Jahangir Khan in the PSA Hall of Fame as the association continues to celebrate its greatest icons.A key part of the Pakistani dominance of the sport throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jansher Khan won the World Championships eight times - a record in the men's game - and also added six British Open titles to a glittering trophy haul.A World No.1 for 97 months throughout his career, Khan's final professional title count of 99 is the greatest of any player since records began.Jansher Khan said: "I feel very happy because Hong Kong is my second home and I played the Hong Kong Open for many years and I won eight Hong Kong Opens, so Hong Kong is really, for me, it is the best place. And I'm very happy to come to Hong Kong see my old friends. It's an honour to get this award”.

Sports Bulletin ReportMULTAN: The lineup for the semifinals of the 4th T20 Blind Cricket World Cup is complete, with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal advancing to the knockout stage. Pakistan will clash with Nepal in the first semifinal, while Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka in the second semifinal. Both matches are scheduled for December 1 at Multan Cricket Stadium. In the final round of group matches, Pakistan delivered a commanding performance, defeating Afghanistan by seven wickets to secure the top spot in the group. Electing to field first, Pakistan bowled out Afghanistan for a mere 94 runs in 19.2 overs, with Fakhar Abbas claiming 3 wickets for just 4 runs in 2.2 overs. Chasing the modest target, Pakistan achieved victory in 9.5 overs, led by Talha Iqbal's quickfire 32 off 15 balls. Fakhar Abbas was named Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling performance. Meanwhile, in another group match at DHA Ground, Bangladesh overpowered South Africa with a dominant 10-wicket win. South Africa set a target of 150 runs, scoring 149/8 in 20 overs. Bangladesh's openers, Mohammad Salman (73 off 44 balls) and Arif Hussain (55 off 39 balls), comfortably chased down the target in 12.5 overs. The semifinals promise thrilling encounters, with the Pakistan-Nepal match scheduled for 9:00 am and the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka showdown set for 1:00 pm at the Multan Cricket Stadium. 

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Opener Shahzaib Khan stroked a superlative 159 as Pakistan U19 convincingly defeated India U19 by 43 runs in a Group-A ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup fixture at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.Shahzaib’s 147-ball knock, featuring five fours and 10 sixes, propelled Pakistan to a total of 281 for seven in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, India U19 were bowled out for 238 in 47.1 overs after slipping to 81 for four and then 190 for nine. Promising fast bowler Ali Raza starred with the ball, claiming three wickets for 36 runs.The Mansehra-born Shahzaib laid a solid foundation with fellow opener Usman Khan, sharing a 160-run stand in 30.4 overs. Usman contributed a steady 94-ball 60, including six boundaries. Both openers came into this match in fine form, having scored 330 and 314 runs, respectively in a recent tri-series involving Afghanistan and hosts UAE.For the third wicket, Shahzaib added 71 runs with Muhammad Riazullah (27). Pakistan batters accelerated towards the end, adding 74 runs in the last 10 overs after reaching 207 for two in 40 overs. Captain Saad Baig’s decision to bat first proved fruitful as his side posted a challenging total of 281.Fast bowler Samarth Nagaraj was the standout performer for India, taking three wickets for 45 runs, while Ayush Mhatre chipped in with two for 30. India began their chase positively but suffered early blows. Abdul Subhan dismissed Mhatre (20) at 28 in 3.4 overs before Ali Raza removed Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the next over. Usman Khan and Faham-ul-Haq added to India’s woes, reducing them to 81 for four.A 53-run fifth-wicket partnership between Nikhil Kumar and Kiran Chormale briefly revived India. However, Faham broke the stand by dismissing Chormale (20). Kumar, who top-scored with a 77-ball 67, added 40 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Harvansh Pangalia (26) before falling to off-spinner Naveed Ahmed Khan at 174 in the 36th over.The innings finally wrapped when No.10 Mohamed Enaam was run-out for 30 with the India scorecard showing 238 in 47.1 overs. For Pakistan, Ali Raza’s figures of 9-1-36-3 stood out, while Abdul Subhan (2-45) and Faham-ul-Haq (2-41) provided excellent support. Pakistan's next match is against the UAE on 2 December at the same venue.Scores in brief (Pakistan U19 beat India U19 by 43 runs, Dubai International Cricket Stadium):Pakistan U19 281-7, 50 overs (Shahzaib Khan 159, Usman Khan 60, Muhammad Riazullah 27; Samarth Nagaraj 3-45, Ayush Mhatre 2-30)India U19 238 all-out, 47.1 overs (Nikhil Kumar 67, Mohamed Enaan 30, Harvansh Pangalia 26, Kiran Chormale 20, Ayush Mhatre 20; Ali Raza 3-36, Abdul Subhan 2-45, Faham-ul-Haq 41)Player of the match – Shahzaib Khan (Pakistan U19) 

ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk): FIFA has announced the shortlist of nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2024, which will recognise the leading lights in another thrilling year of women’s and men’s football at both club and national-team levels.Voting is now open on FIFA.com across a number of award categories, with fans set to play a key role in choosing the winners. Voting for The Best FIFA Men’s Player, The Best FIFA Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper will be equally weighted between fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams, and media representatives.The winner of the FIFA Fan Award will be chosen entirely by fans, while the recipient of the FIFA Fair Play Award will be decided by an expert panel. Voting for the new FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award will be split equally between fans and a panel of FIFA Legends.The biggest change in terms of voting for this year’s edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards is that fans will have their say in selecting The Best FIFA Men’s 11 and The Best FIFA Women’s 11. They will be able to choose from a list of 77 nominated players – 22 defenders, midfielders and forwards apiece, plus 11 goalkeepers – slotting them into one of several preset tactical formations to build their team. Votes will be weighted equally between fans and an expert panel.The FIFA Puskás Award has been redefined as being bestowed on the scorer of the best goal in men’s football regardless of championship or nationality. To honour the best goal scored in women’s football in any league around the world, the FIFA Marta Award, named after the Brazilian legend, will be presented for the very first time.The Best FIFA Women’s Player nomineesAitana Bonmatí (Spain), BarcelonaBarbra Banda (Zambia), Shanghai Shengli/Orlando PrideCaroline Graham Hansen (Norway), BarcelonaKeira Walsh (England), BarcelonaKhadija Shaw (Jamaica), Manchester CityLauren Hemp (England), Manchester CityLindsey Horan (USA), Olympique LyonnaisLucy Bronze (England), Barcelona/ChelseaMallory Swanson (USA), Chicago Red StarsMariona Caldentey (Spain), Barcelona/ArsenalNaomi Girma (USA), San Diego WaveOna Batlle (Spain), BarcelonaSalma Paralluelo (Spain), BarcelonaSophia Smith (USA), Portland ThornsTabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Paris Saint-Germain/Olympique LyonnaisTrinity Rodman (USA), Washington SpiritThe Best FIFA Men’s Player nomineesDani Carvajal (Spain), Real MadridErling Haaland (Norway), Manchester CityFederico Valverde (Uruguay), Real MadridFlorian Wirtz (Germany), Bayer LeverkusenJude Bellingham (England), Real MadridKylian Mbappé (France), Paris Saint-Germain/Real MadridLamine Yamal (Spain), BarcelonaLionel Messi (Argentina), Inter MiamiRodri (Spain), Manchester CityToni Kroos (Germany), Real Madrid (now retired)Vinícius Jr (Brazil), Real MadridThe Best FIFA Women’s Coach nomineesArthur Elias (Brazil), BrazilElena Sadiku (Sweden), CelticEmma Hayes (England), Chelsea/USAFutoshi Ikeda (Japan), JapanGareth Taylor (England), Manchester CityJonatan Giráldez (Spain), Barcelona/Washington SpiritSandrine Soubeyrand (France), Paris FCSonia Bompastor (France), Olympique Lyonnais/ChelseaThe Best FIFA Men’s Coach nomineesCarlo Ancelotti (Italy), Real MadridLionel Scaloni (Argentina), ArgentinaLuis de la Fuente (Spain), SpainPep Guardiola (Spain), Manchester CityXabi Alonso (Spain), Bayer LeverkusenThe Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper nomineesAlyssa Naeher (USA), Chicago Red StarsAnn-Katrin Berger (Germany), Chelsea/NJ/NY GothamAyaka Yamashita (Japan), INAC Kobe Leonessa/Manchester CityCata Coll (Spain), BarcelonaMary Earps (England), Manchester United/Paris Saint-GermainThe Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper nomineesAndriy Lunin (Ukraine), Real MadridDavid Raya (Spain), ArsenalEderson (Brazil), Manchester CityEmiliano Martínez (Argentina), Aston VillaGianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Paris Saint-GermainMike Maignan (France), AC MilanUnai Simón (Spain), Athletic Club.