T20 Women’s World Cup 2024: Winners to receive $2.34 million, runners-up to get $1.17millionSports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be the first ICC event where women will receive the same prize money as their male counterparts, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s history. The decision was taken at the ICC Annual Conference in July 2023, when the ICC Board took the step of reaching its prize money equity target seven years ahead of its schedule of 2030, making cricket the only major team sport to have equal prize money for its men’s and women’s World Cup events.The winners of the tournament, which will now be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will receive US$2.34million, a massive, 134 per cent increase on the $1 million awarded to Australia when they clinched the title in South Africa in 2023.The runners-up will receive $1.17 million, an increase of 134 per cent in comparison to the $500, 000 South Africa received for reaching the final on home soil at Newlands Cricket Ground. The two losing semi-finalists will earn $675, 000 (up from $210 000 in 2023), with the overall prize pot totalling $7,958,080, a massive increase of 225 per cent from last year’s total fund of $2.45 million.This move is in line with the ICC’s strategy to prioritise the women’s game and accelerate its growth by 2032. Teams will now receive equal prize money for the equivalent finishing position at comparable events as well as the same amount for winning a match at those events. The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 event prize money is only higher on account of 10 additional teams participating and 32 more matches played.Each win during the group stages will see teams take home $31,154, while the six teams who fail to reach the semi-finals will share a pool of $1.35 million depending on their finishing positions. In comparison, the equivalent pool for the six teams in 2023 was $180,000, shared equally. Teams, who finish third or fourth in their group will take $270,000 each while the teams who finish fifth in their group will both receive $135,000. All 10 participating teams are assured of $112,500.The increase in prize money for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 comes in line with the prize pot for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 also increasing to $3.5 million in total. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will open on 3 October with Bangladesh taking on Scotland at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Sports Bulletin ReportShymkent (Kazakhstan): Pakistan beat Thailand 2-1 in th Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) Under-12 Team Competition Final 2024 here at Shymkent, Kazakhstan. The Pakistan team has been placed in Group D, alongside Saudi Arabia and Thailand.Results:In the first single: Nimnuankul Punnapat beat Rashid Ali 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4)In the second singles: Mohammad Shayan Afridi beat Lamornpanich Shaah 6-1, 6-3In the doubles: Rashid Ali / Mohammad Shayan Afridi beat Nimnuankul Punnapat / Lamornpanich Shaah  6-4, 6-3  

Sports Bulletin ReportMULTAN: South Africa beat Pakistan by 10 runs in the first T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series here at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on Monday evening.Chasing 133 to win, Pakistan struggled from the outset, losing half of their side in the 13th over with 47 runs on the board. At that time, captain Fatima Sana joined Aliya Riaz and the pair knitted an unbroken 75-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but fell 10 runs short of the target.Right-handed batter Fatima, scored an unbeaten 37 off 24 balls, which included five fours. Aliya, brought up her second T20I half-century and returned undefeated on 52 off 39 balls, smashing five fours and a six.For South Africa, Marizanne Kapp and Tumi Sekhukhune took two wickets each.Earlier, after being put into bat, South Africa managed to score 132 for four in their allotted 20 overs. Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, bagging three wickets for 34 in four overs. Sadia’s third scalp in the 18th over of the innings marked her 50th T20I wicket in 41 matches.Former captain Nida Dar, playing her 154th T20I, bowled economically and gave away only 11 runs in her four overs and took the prized scalp of Kapp.For South Africa, opening batter Tazmin Brits returned undefeated on 56 off 63, hitting five fours. She knitted a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Sune Luus (27, 27b, 4x4s) and an unbroken 28-run partnership with Chloe Tryon (15 not out, seven balls, 2x6s).Both sides will now feature in the second T20I at the same venue on Wednesday evening. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 1900 PST.Scores in briefSouth Africa beat Pakistan by 10 runsSouth Africa 132-4, 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 56 not out, Sune Luus 27; Sadia Iqbal 3-34)Pakistan 122-5, 20 overs (Aliya Riaz 52 not out, Fatima Sana 37 not out; Tumi Sekhukhune 2-15,Marizanne Kapp 2-22)Player of the match – Tazmin Brits (South Africa).  

Sports Bulletin ReportLondon (UK): The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) appointed Chris Guest as England Women Under-19 Performance Lead here on Tuesday.Guest arrives from The Blaze where he spent three years as head coach of Loughborough Lightning and then The Blaze following the region’s move to Nottinghamshire in 2022, leading the latter to Charlotte Edwards Cup success this summer.Alongside his regional commitments, he led the England Women U19 World Cup programme as the first head coach in 2023 and then the U19 tri-series between Sri Lanka, England and Australia earlier this year. The 40-year-old has also been assistant coach at Northern Superchargers during the previous three editions of The Hundred.The first of its kind performance role has a significant coaching element as head coach of the U19 side for the forthcoming ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025 in Malaysia as well as future tours whilst also leading on talent identification from the academy and senior programmes which will feed into England’s U19 activity.Guest said: “The pride and excitement of wearing the Three Lions over last few years has been immense and to be able to do so in this new role is an incredible feeling. With the growth of the women’s game, it’s a privilege to take on this role as it will focus on ensuring our young cricketers get the cricket they need at the right time which I am extremely passionate about. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Blaze. It’s a great place to work and has been massive part of my development and I wish them every success in the future. Having left the ECB four years ago, I have gone away and grown. I’m really excited to take on this role and work with the country’s top talent whilst putting my own stamp on things. My philosophy is centred around creating environments where players are willing to fail in order to improve. We all began playing for the love of the game and I cannot wait to see the next generation of cricketers enjoying what they do and playing with smiles on their faces. I can’t wait to work with the other coaches and wider staff and to get started.” 

Over 20 nationalities, 200 players: 90 matches to be played during 18-week soccer festivalSports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): The Saudi Women’s Premier League prepares to reach new heights as the nation’s top women’s division returns to action on Friday (September 27, 2024).With 90 matches set to take place across the 18-match week campaign of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s (SAFF) Women’s Premier League, the third season of top tier professional women’s football in the Kingdom will see the game reach new levels in 2024-25, with over 200 players registered for the new season.Ahead of the new campaign, the league saw over 15 new international signings join the 10 clubs, resulting in the total number of player nationalities reaching more than 20. The influx of international talent to the Saudi Women’s Premier League is a testament to the growth of women’s football in the Kingdom, following on from the qualification of Al Nassr to the Preliminary Stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League in August.The new season’s kick-off campaign - titled ‘See Us Play’ - invites football fans to celebrate women’s football in Saudi Arabia. With a new generation of football fans emerging in the Kingdom, including 77,000 female players in the nation’s school league, the Women’s Premier League will provide supporters with memorable moments across the new season.SAFF President, Yasser Al Misehal said: “We’re very proud of the growth of women’s football in Saudi Arabia and excited to see the return of the Women’s Premier League. The Federation’s investment in women’s football is clearly working so we will continue to increase our investments at all levels. As we go into the third season of the league, we have more registered players, football clubs, domestic competitions, national teams, licensed coaches, referees, and girls participating in the regional training centers and the school’s league than ever before. I congratulate our Women’s Football Department on this initiative, and wish the players, clubs and officials good luck and in the spirit of the campaign, encourage everyone across Saudi and beyond to #SeeUsPlay. We have so many historic clubs and passionate fans who support them but there is new history to write, and these players simply deserve your support. Everyone benefits from the noise and energy you will bring.”Head of Women’s Football at SAFF, Aalia Al Rasheed said: “The development we have seen for the Saudi Women’s Premier League over the past two seasons has been remarkable, going from having no professional female players to now having over 20 nationalities competing here in Saudi Arabia. It has been an incredible experience to witness how this game is inspiring a new generation, with players who saw the formation of our national team in 2021 now joining the women’s professional league and professional women’s clubs now competing on the international stage. The Saudi Women’s Premier League continues to develop rapidly with international players now eager to join our clubs and the formation of youth clubs and leagues to support the emerging talents of Saudi football and highlight the unique international stars to join the league this season. The record growth at a grassroots level is what we are most proud of, but we are looking forward to seeing how this continues to develop in the coming season, inspired by our new #SeeUsPlay campaign.” 

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Pakistan started their campaign in the ATF Under-12 Team Competition Final 2024 and thrashed Saudi Arabia 2-1 at Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Pakistan will face Thailand in their second match on Tuesday at the same venue. The Pakistan team has been placed in Group D, alongside Saudi Arabia and Thailand.Results:In the first single, Rashid Ali beat Al Ghafi Elyas 6-0, 4-6, 6-1In the second singles, Elmansoury Hamza beat Mohammad Shayan Afridi 4-6, 6-3, 6-2In the doubles: Rashid Ali / Mohammad Shayan Afridi beat Al Zahrani Anas/Elmansoury Hamza 6-2, 6-4. 

Sports Bulletin ReportRome (Italy): World Skate crowned two new World Champions of Street Skateboarding late Saturday night as part of the World Skate Games Italia 2024.Leading by the end of the Run stage, Rayssa Leal slipped down to sixth position during Best Trick before pulling the best kickflip back smith to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Pushed down into second by Rayssa’s heroics was erstwhile leader Momiji Nishiya while in third came her Japanese compatriot Miyu Ito.Men’s finals saw sole Japanese finalist Toa Sasaki make up a 13 point deficit at the end of first Runs to win by a convincing 11-point margin. In second came Argentina's Matthias Dell Olio followed by Colombia's Juancarlos Gonzalez.

Zahid Mehmood (5 for 18) halts Stallions to achieve target, Markhors to face Dolphin on Sep 18PCB ReportFAISALABAD: UMT Markhors beat Allied Bank Stallions by 126 runs as the latter folded for 105 all out in 23.4 overs while chasing 232 runs in the fourth match of the Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup on Sunday at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. Markhors will play their next match on 18 September against Dolphins.In a remarkable batting collapse the Stallions lost eight wickets for just 26 runs in a space of 54 balls as Zahid Mehmood (5-18) and Salman Ali Agha (3-21) ran through their batting line-up. Stallions were cruising at 79-2 requiring 153 runs from 211 balls but then lost their way. Zahid took just 4.4 overs to register his maiden List-A fiver-fer.Naseem Shah took first two wickets as Yasir Khan was caught behind in the 5th over while Shan Masood (19, 21b, 2x4s) chopped one on in 10th over to leave Stallions 52-2. Babar, the only Stallions batter other than Shan to enter double figures, looked in good touch for 45 off 44 balls accumulating eight boundaries but became Zahid’s first prey in 16th over.Earlier, Jahandad Khan’s career best List-A figures of 4-49 and Mehran Mumtaz’s 3-56 restricted the Markhors to 231 all out with 30 balls to spare. Markhors were reduced to 38-3 in in 8.2 overs with Fakhar Zaman (20, 24b, 2x4s), Mohammad Faizan (2, 8b) and Kamran Ghulam (11, 13b, 2x4s) back in the hut as Mohammad Ali, Jahandad and Abrar struck respectively, on regular intervals.Half-centuries from Salman Ali Agha and Iftikhar Ahmed brought the momentum back to the Markhors’ innings as the duo put on 65-run for the fifth-wicket partnership. Salman departed after scoring 51 off 72 balls with the help of three fours and one six with the scorecard reading 159-5.Iftikhar, batting at No.6, contributed 60 vital runs taking 66 balls as he hit eight boundaries. Abdul Samad (37, 35b, 5x4s, 1x6) and Iftikhar’s joint stand of 62 for the sixth-wicket meant that Markhors crossed 200-run mark but with Samad holing Mehran to long-on at the score of 221, the Stallions then took no time to wrap up the innings. Markhors lost their last five wickets for mere 10 runs as they managed 231 in 45 overs.Scores in brief (UMT Markhors beat Allied Bank Stallions by 126 runs)UMT Markhors 231 all out, 45 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 60, Salman Ali Agha 51, Abdul Samad 37, Mohammad Rizwan 33; Jahandad Khan 4-49, Mehran Mumtaz 3-56)Allied Bank Stallions 105 all out, 23.4 overs (Babar Azam 45, Shan Masood 19; Zahid Mehmood 5-18, Salman Ali Agha 3-21, Naseem Shah 2-24)Player of the match: Zahid Mehmood (UMT Markhors)

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE:  The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) named a 23-member squad for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-17 Men’s Championship 2024 scheduled to be held in Bhutan from September 20 to 30, 2024.The green shirts will kick off their campaign against Nepal on September 21 at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, the host Bhutan on September 23, and Sri Lanka on September 25 at the same venue. Pakistan are placed in Group B with Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka while India Maldives and Bangladesh are in Group A.Sajjad Mehmood will serve as the head coach with Hassan Baloch assisting him as the assistant coach and Nouman Ibrahim taking on the role of goalkeeping coach.Names of selected players: Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Husnain Saleem, Najeem Khan, Sameer Ahmed, Ubaid Ullah Khan, Majid Ali, Syed Mohammad Aabis Raza and Umar Javed (Defenders), Abdul Samad, Mohammad Faraz, Farhad, Haroon Rashed, Hikmat Ullah, Khobaib Khan, Mohammad Shahab Ahmed and Mohammad Khan (Midfielders), Abdul Ghani, Subhan Karim, Shahraf Khan and Muhammad Talha Khan (Forwards), Aadil Ali Khan, Ghulam Abbas and Kashif (Goalkeepers).

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB has confirmed match officials for the cricket season 2024-25 following an annual appraisal process. There is no change to the PCB Elite Panel of Match Referees, while, following feedback from the ICC, there is also no change in the ICC International Panel of Match Referees and Umpires.PCB Elite Panel of Match Referees: Aleem Khan Moosa (Karachi), Athar Laiq (Karachi), Bilal Moinul Haq Khiljee (Lahore), Iftikhar Ahmed (Karachi), Kamran Chaudhry (Lahore), Mohammad Aslam (Quetta), Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh (Hyderabad), Nadeem Arshad (Faisalabad), Sohail Idrees (Lahore)PCB Elite Panel of Umpires: Abdul Moqeet (Lahore), Ahmed Shahab (Lahore), Aleem Dar (Lahore), Aley Haider (Karachi), Asif Yaqoob (Islamabad), Aslam Bareach (Quetta), Faisal Khan Aafreedi (Sargodha), Farooq Ali Khan (Abbottabad), Ghulam Sarwar (Sibi), Imran Jawed (Karachi), Imranullah Aslam (Bahawalpur), Kashif Sohail (Khanewal), Khalid Mehmood Sr. (Karachi), Majid Hussain (AJK), Mohammad Asif (Lahore), Mohammad Sajid (Charsadda), Nasir Hussain (Lahore), Qaiser Waheed (Lahore), Rana Mohammad Arshad (Faisalabad), Rashid Riaz Waqar (Lahore), Saqib Khan (Abbottabad), Shozab Raza (Lahore), Syed Imtiaz Iqbal (Karachi), Tariq Rasheed (Lahore), Waleed Yaqub (Lahore), Zulfiqar Jan (Charsadda)PCB Supplementary Panel of Match Referees: Abu-al-Hasnat Rao (Lahore), Ahmer Saeed (Karachi), Ali Gohar (Karachi), Fazal Akbar Shah (Peshawar), Ghulam Mustafa (Kasur), Inamullah Khan (Lahore), Mohammad Amiruddin Ansari (Karachi), Saman Zulfiqar (Sheikhupura), Samiul Haq (Faisalabad), Sohail Khan (Lahore)PCB Supplementary Panel of Umpires: Abdul Karim (Naseerabad), Ahmed Nadeem (Peshawar), Aqeel Aadil Khan (Karachi), Asif Farooq Awan (Gujranwala), Dilshad Ali (Multan), Haroon Malik (Sargodha), Hashim Ali (Lodhran), Hassan Mahmood (Lahore), Irfan Haider (Islamabad), Jamshid Iqbal (Peshawar), Kamran Khalil (Lahore), Mohammad Basit (Lahore), Mohammad Fayyaz (Peshawar), Mohammad Imran (Sargodha), Mohammad Irfan Dilshad (Lahore), Mohammad Kaleem (Lahore), Mohammad Waqas (Lahore), Naseer Ahmed (Chakwal), Qaiser Waheed (Lahore), Rafiq Ahmad (Dadu), Raza Asghar (Sheikhupura), Saleem Butt (Rawalpindi), Sultan Mahmood (Loralai), Syed Fahim Ahmed Bukhari (Karachi), Waqar Ahmed (Islamabad), Zeeshan Arif (Mirpur, AJK)PCB Development Panel of Umpires: Aamer Atta (Dera Ghazi Khan), Abdul Basit (Rawalpindi), Abdul Qayoom (Karachi), Abrar Ahmed (Kasur), Adnan Rashid (Lahore), Ajmal Khan (Swat), Anser Mahmood (Pattoki), Asim Alvi (Karachi), Farooq Anwar Bajwa (Faisalabad), Farooq Jan (Charsadda), Furqan Butt (Lahore), Ghayyur Hussain (Peshawar), Hameed Khan (Quetta), Hidayatullah (Pishin), Imran Naseem (Okara), Jaffar Hussian (Peshawar), Khalid Mahmood Jr (Quetta), Khalid Younas (Kohat), Khalil Ahmad Siddiqi (Kasur), Maqbool Ahmed (Faisalabad), Mehtab Hussain (Rawalpindi), Mohammad Aamir Sharif (Kohat), Mohammad Arif (Dera Ismail Khan), Mohammad Asif Jr (Multan), Mohammad Imran Jr (Bahawalnagar), Mohammad Masood Afridi (Peshawar), Mohammad Shafiqul Hai (Dera Ismail Khan), Mohammad Yousaf (Dera Ghazi Khan), Mumtaz Ali (Loralai), Muneeb Ahsan (Attock), Munir Ahmed (Kasur), Naik Mohammad (Kohat), Nasar Khan (Mardan), Naveed Khan (Nowshehra), Noor ul Hakam (Buner), Raweed Khan (Charsadda), Sadiq Amin (Charsadda), Sagheer Ahmed (Lahore), Saifullah Khan (Sargodha), Shahid Aslam (Karachi), Shahid Naseem (Rawalpindi), Sheraz Ahmed Rajput (Lahore), Sohail Khan (Charssada), Sohail Zaman Khattak (Peshawar), Waqas Zeb (Lahore), Waseemuddin (Kohat)PCB Women’s Panel of Umpires: Afia Amin (Lahore), Ayesha Farooq (Lahore), Fakhira Kazim Syeda (Muzaffarabad), Humairah Farah (Lahore), Nazia Nazir (Lahore), Riffat Mustafa (Kasur), Sabahat Rasheed (Lahore), Saleema Imtiaz (Karachi), Sania Ashraf (Lahore), Shakila Rafiq (Kasur), Sukhan Faiz (Multan), Sumaira Sajid (Lahore), Zakia Gul (Khairpur).