BIPIN DANI Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, the recipient of the Padma Bhushan Award, who made his Test debut five decades ago (against West Indies at Port of Spain on March 6, 1971) will be felicitated in the United States of America (USA), it is learnt. This was confirmed by P.K. Guha, an ardent follower and promoter of cricket in the USA. Speaking exclusively over the telephone on Wednesday, he said, "Yes, we are going ahead with our plan to host Sunil’s 50th anniversary of Test Cricket debut celebration". Incidentally, the celebration was scheduled to be held last year in 2021 but had to be postponed because of Covid restrictions.   "The event is scheduled for July 30 (Saturday) in Farmington Hills, a Detroit suburb here". "Kapil Dev, Gundappa Vishwanath, Clive Llyod and Farokh Engineer are scheduled to join the event, other than Sunil himself", Guha further added. Vishy and Sunil are brothers-in-law. Viswanath is married to Gavaskar's sister Kavita. Gavaskar, with Vishy, Kapil Dev and Engineer have played against Clive Llyod's Windies team. In 2015, Guha had organized the biggest cricket event in Michigan by hosting cricket legends such as Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, Wadekar, B.S. Chandrasekhar,  Engineer, Chetan Chauhan, Karsan Ghavri and Padmakar Shivalkar. Guha had a special bond with the late Chetan Chauhan. Cricket fans in the metro Detroit area enjoyed interacting with the cricket stars at a sold-out show in Troy, Michigan.

Raja Hafeez Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the qualification pathway for the Paris 2024 Olympic hockey tournaments, as submitted by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The qualification process per gender will be as follows: Host Nation: 1 team (on the basis that both teams – Men and Women - have satisfied the FIH criteria of achieving a ranking of 25 or better in the FIH World Rankings since the end of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which is the case for both French teams) Continental Qualifications: 5 teams The winning team of each of the following continental competitions will qualify: African Hockey Road to Paris 2023 Pan American Games 2023 Asian Games 2022 EuroHockey Championship 2023 Oceania Cup 2023 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualification Tournaments: 6 teams There will be 2 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualification tournaments, consisting of 8 teams each (16 teams in total), held in early 2024. The number of teams from each Continent participating in these tournaments will be based on Continental quotas, which will be determined according to the FIH World Rankings on 31 January 2023. The teams filling each quota, and therefore invited to participate, will be based on performance at the Continental Championships. The top 3 teams in each of these tournaments will qualify. FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “On behalf of FIH, I’d like to extend our sincerest thanks to the IOC for having approved the qualification pathway that we suggested. This will provide for absolutely thrilling matches all over the world, which is wonderful for athletes and fans alike”.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-The training camp of the Boys Under-16 Junior Davis Cup team for the World Group qualifying round matches is in full swing under the supervision of renowned coach Rashid Malik here at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah. The Junior Davis Cup team consists of Bilal Asim, Hamid Israr and M Huzaifa Khan. Both Bilal and Hamid are training hard under the guidance and coaching of Rashid Malik while Mohammad Huzaifa Khan didn’t report to the camp yet. The training camp rolled into action from April 4 and will conclude on April 8. After that, the national junior team will be leaving for New Delhi on April 9 and the main event will be held from April 11 to 16 at RK Khanna Stadium, New Delhi. Talking to the media here on Wednesday, team captain Rashid Malik (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) said: “The camp is being conducted in hot weather, where I am trying to train the youngsters well, getting them mentally tough ahead of the big event. But the group this time is very tough. They are thoroughly professional with million-dollar budgets for betterment of tennis. They are spending a lot on their players to train them well and provide them with a good number of ITF events so that they may further excel at higher level. “There is a dire need for the PTF and government to improve the infrastructure and arrange maximum ITF and ATF events for Pakistani players at home and abroad, so that they may continuously take part in the international events and earn crucial points to improve their international rankings as well as their games and skills,” said the renowned coach, whose aim is to produce tennis champions like he has been doing for the last three decades.  “The PTF should also send the national team to the venue of the event a bit earlier, as the players need to adapt to the conditions and if they practise there, it will further sharpen their chances to give their best against their respective opponents,” said Malik, who will also be defending his ITF Senior 45 plus title in Delhi after the Junior Davis Cup event.  Speaking about his preparation for the mega event, Pakistan No. 1 Under-16 player Bilal Asim said: “Our practice under the coaching of Sir Rashid Malik is going well as we are training hard and trying to improve our game and skills. Although the competition is very tough as top tennis playing nations are featuring in it, yet we will try to give tough times to our opponents.”  Another talented player Hamid Israr said: “Sir Rashid Malik has been training us very hard and under his guidance, we are learning well and improving our skills and techniques. The key thing of the camp is that Sir Malik is trying to make us mentally and physically strong and we will try to give tough fights to our respective opponents.”

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Teams Asean and Kalabagh/Shahtaj have qualified for the main final of the Islamabad Club Champions Trophy 2022 after winning their respective matches played here at the Islamabad Club Polo Ground on Thursday. The first match of the day proved a thrilling encounter where Team Asean defeated BN Polo by a narrow margin of 5-4. Both the teams played really against each other and continued to fight till the end and when the final whistle was blown, the score was tied at 4-4. The match was then decided in the sudden death chukker, foreign player Bauti Fenell smashed in a match-winning goal to steer Team Asean to a close 5-4 triumph.  Bauti Fenell emerged as hero of the match for Team Asean as he did magic with mallet and polo pony and amused the spectators with his spectacular game and skills. He contributed with three tremendous goals while his teammate Raja Jalal Arslan also played well and banged in a beautiful brace.  Team BN Polo also fought well for each and every goal and matched fire-with-fire till the end but they couldn’t finish the match well in the sudden death chukker, thus lost the thriller by a slight margin of 4-5. Eulogio was the key player from the losing side, who hammered a hat-trick of goals while the remaining one came from Babar Naseem.  Team work and collective efforts helped Kalabagh/Shahtaj record an impressive 8-6 triumph over EFU-PAF in the second match of the day. Team Kalabagh/Shahtaj dominated the match right from the word go and maintained their lead till the end. They though dominated the first three chukker while EFU-PAF made a strong comeback in the fourth and last chukker by hammering a hat-trick, but it was too little too late situation for them as they lost the encounter by 6-8.  Foreign player Guy Gibrat, Osman Khan and Raja Temur Nadeem jointly emerged as stars of the day from the winning team as they all pumped in a brace each while Adil Waheed and Asfandyar Khan converted one goal apiece. Hamza Mawaz Khan played well from the losing side by thrashing in three goals while Syed Aun Muhammad Rizvi banged in a brace and Sqn Ldr Hamza Iqbal scored one goal.  Now the main final will be contested between Team Asean and Kalabagh/Shahtaj on Sunday while the subsidiary final will take place on Saturday between BN Polo Team and EFU-PAF here at the Islamabad Club Polo Ground.     

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai (UAE):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) has thanked hosts New Zealand Cricket for the successful delivery of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022. The event, which has been one of the most competitive Cricket World Cups ever, saw Australia crowned as champions after 31 games. With eight teams competing across six host cities, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, Dunedin and Tauranga, the event was brilliantly and safely delivered with Australia lifting the trophy for a record fifth time. ICC Chair Greg Barclay said: “We are delighted with the way the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 has been staged. It has been the most wonderful advertisement for cricket with closely fought competitive matches on superb pitches at beautiful venues. “I’d like to thank New Zealand Cricket and the Local Organising Committee for their commitment and dedication, often in challenging circumstances with COVID impacting on all areas of the event. Thanks too, to the ICC staff for once again delivering such a high-quality global cricket event and to the Match Officials for doing such a great job. “The New Zealand cricket loving public have done our sport proud, packing the Hagley Oval to make the final a great spectacle. Of course, our biggest thanks must go to the players who have made this event so memorable.” “Finally congratulations to Australia for winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in outstanding fashion.”

Ali Ahmed LAHORE:-Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has congratulated both Australia and Pakistan cricket teams for producing enthralling, exciting and competitive cricket throughout the 38-day historic tour. “The three-Test series was combative and engrossing going into the last hour of the 15th day to find a winner, while white-ball cricket confirmed the high billing and calibre of both the sides. The camaraderie and respect demonstrated by the two sides during high-pressure cricket was exemplary and a massive advertisement for our sport,” Mr Ramiz Raja said. “Players from either side, through their on and off the field behaviour, significantly enhanced the values and spirit of cricket, which is exactly what this great sport is all about. “After witnessing and experiencing firsthand what this great country has to offer, I am confident the Australia players and officials will take home fond memories and become bigger advocates and goodwill ambassadors for Pakistan than before. “World cricket is proud and thankful to both sides for the way they played this series and won the hearts and minds of the cricket fans within and outside Pakistan. There is no doubt Pakistan and world cricket is now better placed than it was before this historic series. “I would like to place on record my heartfelt thanks to Cricket Australia who made this series possible by sending their best available players, as well as the PCB staff who delivered an outstanding and flawless series at the backend of HBL PSL 7. “I am also grateful to our enthusiastic and energetic Pakistan cricket fans who made this series a big success by thronging the three venues to appreciate and support both the sides. They got behind the players and teams whole-heartedly and appreciated strong performances, images of which continue to dominate the new and traditional media. “I would also like to thank all the security agencies, local and federal governments, our valued commercial partners and the broadcasters, who ensured things worked smoothly and excellent pictures went out for the global viewers and fans.”

Sports Bulletin Report TORINO:-The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and USA Climbing have agreed to add Speed events to the schedule of the IFSC World Cup taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, from 20 to 22 May. Along with the IFSC Boulder World Cup in Brixen, Italy, the additional Speed events added in Salt Lake City now fully compensate for the cancellation of the IFSC World Cup in Moscow, Russia. The programme for the first weekend of World Cup competition in Salt Lake City will now replicate the one for the second World Cup – taking place from 27 to 29 May – with both men’s and women’s Speed events being contested on Friday, and the two Boulder events spread across the weekend. Speed finals Saturday, 21 May: 9:00 AM Women’s Boulder qualification 3:30 PM Men’s Boulder qualification Sunday, 22 May: 11:00 AM Boulder semi-finals 6:00 PM Boulder finals

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-The Team EFU-PAF and Team Asean have won their matches in the Islamabad Club Polo Champions Trophy 2022 after thrashing The Guards and Team Kalabagh respectively at the Islamabad Club Polo Ground Islamabad on Wednesday. In the first match of the day, EFU-PAF defeated The Guards by 8-6.5. Hamza Mawaz Khan was in sublime form and played with the great technique and skills that helped him to show as hero of the match for EFU-PAF. He smashed in sparkling six goals while his teammates Syed Aun Mohammad Rizvi and Waqas contributed with one goal apiece. Team The Guards also matched fire-with-fire but they couldn't finish well, thus lost the encounter with a close margin of 6.5-8. Mumtaz Abbas Niazi was top scorer from the losing side with a contribution of three goals while Gulfam and Hashir struck one goal each for The Guards, which had one and a half goal handicap advantage. The second match of the day proved a one-sided affair, where Team Asean dominated and overpowered Team Kalabagh by a huge margin of 12-3.5. Raja Jalal Arslan emerged as star of the match as he amused the spectators with outstanding mallet and pony work and also fired in five fantastic goals. Haider Asad also excelled with mallet and horse and hammered a hat-trick while a foreign player and Hashim Asad slammed in one goal apiece. The enthralling and exciting matches were witnessed and enjoyed by a good number of polo enthusiasts as well as Islamabad Club officials, players and their families. On Thursday, two more matches will be played as the first encounter of the day will be contested between Asean Polo and BN Polo at 3:15 pm while the second encounter of the day will be played between Kalabagh/Shahtaj and EFU-PAF at 3:45 pm.

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai (UAE):-Men’s Test captains Babar Azam (Pakistan), Kraigg Brathwaite (West Indies) and Pat Cummins (Australia) have all been shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for March 2022 following their supreme efforts during a month which was packed with outstanding individual performances around the globe. The women’s shortlist for March is comprised of stars from the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. England bowler Sophie Ecclestone, and run-machines Rachael Haynes (Australia) and Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) are in the running to scoop the award following stellar performances during the month against the world’s best. The ICC Player of the Month nominees for March were announced on Wednesday, based on performances across formats and including matches from the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup held in New Zealand, amongst others. An independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world can now vote to decide the winners, which will be announced next week. Fans can register via icc-cricket.com/awards and are invited to cast their votes until Sunday 10 April. ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for March: Babar Azam (Pakistan) Pakistan’s skipper played an integral part in his side’s batting during the recent series against Australia. Despite not ending the World Test Championship (WTC) three-match series victorious, Babar amassed 390 runs during the month in Tests, including a record-breaking 196 in the second Test to salvage a draw against the odds. In addition, his efforts at the crease in the two ODI matches during the month saw Babar score 57 and 114 respectively, with the latter helping his side chase down an imposing target of 349 set by Australia. This is the second time he’s featured on the shortlist for the ICC Player of the Month award, after winning in April 2021. Kraigg Brathwaite (West Indies) The West Indies’ Test captain and opening batter led from the front during the recently concluded successful WTC series against England, scoring 341 runs at an average of 85.25. Brathwaite’s resolve and determination at the crease was best characterized by his monumental 160 from 489 balls in the second Test in response to England’s big first innings total. This mammoth innings ensured a drawn second Test and provided the platform for his side to clinch the series by winning the final showdown in Grenada. Pat Cummins (Australia) In a WTC Test series which was dominated by run scoring, Cummins stood out for his bowling performances in unforgiving conditions. He led his side, and the bowling attack, to victory in Pakistan playing a pivotal role in clinching the series thanks to a match-winning spell, taking 5 for 56 in the first innings and following up with 3 for 23 in the second innings of the final test. Taking 12 wickets at an average of 22.50 helped him secure his first nomination in the ICC Player of the Month awards. ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for March: Sophie Ecclestone (England) Ecclestone’s outstanding bowling performances during the month helped steer her side to the Women’s Cricket World Cup final in New Zealand. Her spin bowling caused problems throughout the tournament for opposition batters, taking 20 wickets during the calendar month at an average of 12.85. Her prowess was capped by a magnificent spell in the victory over South Africa in the semi-final, taking 6 for 36 to ensure a 137-run victory. This is the second time she has been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month accolade (previously shortlisted in June 2021). Rachael Haynes (Australia) Scoring 429 runs in the eight matches she played during the month, Haynes was at the forefront of Australia’s unbeaten run through to the Women’s Cricket World Cup Final. Averaging 61.28 during the month, along with a healthy strike rate of 84.28, her stellar performances came at crucial times – 130 against England in their opening match and 85 in the semi-final victory over the West Indies. Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) Wolvaardt’s endeavours for South Africa were critical to her team reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. Up to the end of the semi-finals, she was the tournament’s leading run-scorer, amassing 433 runs at an average of 54.12, passing 50 on five occasions and proving a thorn in the side of many opposing teams.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Bilquis & Abdul Razak Dawood (BARD) Foundation will sponsor upcoming national tennis lad Huzaifa Abdul Rehman for the training at the Next Gen Academy in Florida and funding for his professional career in the Men’s Circuit. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed at a ceremony that attended by Board-Member of the BARD foundation Faisal Dawood and Huzaifa’s family. “Huzaifa is a promising young tennis player with an array of early accomplishments to his name already. At BARD, we realize that to reach the very top, young athletes need constant support and nurturing, which unfortunately, at this moment is not available to many in Pakistan. We are very happy to step in and provide the resources Huzaifa requires in progressing further on the international stage and making Pakistan proud. The Foundation will continue to support deserving youngsters in achieving their true potential, both in education and sports” said Faisal Dawood. Huzaifa has so far had a remarkable career in Tennis: In 2016, he was Ranked No. 2 in Asia Under-14, while winning the Under-14 tournament in Thailand. In 2018, he won the Under-14 Title in Saudi Arabia and a gold in the Junior Davis Cup. In January 2020, he was the Top-Ranked Pakistani player globally. Huzaifa is trained by David Pierce, the brother and trainer of Mary Pierce (3x Grand Slam winner). In 2020-2021 the young tennis star spent 18 months at Next Gen Academy, while competing in 25 international tournaments in Asia & USA. Huzaifa’s coach at the Next Gen Academy, Travis Brady, believes that he has an exciting future ahead, “He is feisty on court, and his game is aggressive. He plays good, defensively, with an unbelievable forehand and a good serve.”