Sports Bulletin

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 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.” 

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: 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). 

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced a historic moment for Pakistan cricket as Saleema Imtiaz becomes the first Pakistani woman to be nominated to the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires. This prestigious nomination qualifies her to officiate in women’s bilateral international matches and ICC Women’s Events, marking a major milestone in Pakistan’s cricketing history.Saleema, who is the mother of Pakistan women’s international player Kainat Imtiaz, began her umpiring career with the PCB Women’s Umpires Panel in 2008. Her extensive experience includes officiating in high-profile events under the Asian Cricket Council, such as the 2022 and 2024 ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup and the 2023 ACC Emerging Women’s Cup in Hong Kong. Most recently, she was a member of the playing control team for the ACC Women’s Premier Cup 2024 in Kuala Lumpur.Saleema Imtiaz said: “I am beyond thrilled to join the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires. I owe immense gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board for the invaluable opportunities that paved the way for this achievement. The journey has been filled with hard work and personal sacrifices, but now, standing at the cusp of this new chapter, it all feels worth it. This isn’t just a win for me – it’s a win for every aspiring female cricketer and umpire in Pakistan. I hope my success motivates countless women who dream of making their mark in the sport. This moment reflects the growing influence of women in cricket and the PCB’s commitment to fostering that development. I sincerely hope to see more women follow in my footsteps and embrace this beautiful game. Ever since Kainat made her debut for Pakistan in 2010, my own dream has been to represent my country at an international level. While I’ve had opportunities with the Asian Cricket Council, officiating at the highest level has always been the ultimate goal. I’m now focused on performing to the best of my abilities in both bilateral and ICC matches, and building my reputation as a reliable and respected match official.”

Usman (111), Hasnain (5-74) script convincing win for Lake City PanthersSports Bulletin ReportFAISALABAD: Lake City Panthers trounced Dolphins by 50 runs in the third game of Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup on Saturday at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Saturday night.Dolphins got off to a steady start in pursuit of the 329-run target as the opening batters Mohammad Huraira (39, 30b, 3x4s, 3x6s) and Sahibzada Farhan (52, 69b, 4x4s, 1x6) put on 68 runs before the former fell to Shadab Khan in 13th over.Usama Mir eked out Muhammad Akhlaq and Sahibzada in the 20th and 22nd overs, respectively prompting a batting collapse for Dolphins as they went from 109-1 to 166-5.Mohammad Hasnain dismissed Saud Shakeel and Asif Ali before Qasim Akram and Faheem Ashraf fought back with a 78-run sixth-wicket partnership. Qasim was castled by Hasnain in the 42nd over for 65 off 62 balls (8x4s, 1x6) bringing Panthers back in the game.The right-arm pacer from Hyderabad soon dismissed Mohammad Abbas Afridi and then Faheem Ashraf (41, 35b, 4x4s, 1x6) to register his third List-A five-wicket haul. Dolphins fell 50 runs short as they were bundled out for 278 in 47 overs. Mubasir Khan and Usama bagged two wickets each while Shadab picked up one.Earlier, Usman Khan’s maiden List-A century coupled with brisk half-centuries from Haider Ali and Shadab propelled the Panthers past 300-run mark. Usman hit 11 fours and three sixes in his 111 which came off 110 balls as he lifted his team from 19-2 by stitching a 70-run third-wicket partnership with Umar Siddiq (30, 39b, 2x4s, 1x6) With Umar and Mubasir departing in 18th and 22nd overs, respectively and Panthers reeling at 105-4, Usman and Haider Ali joined forces to fetch 103 runs for the fifth-wicket. Haider struck five boundaries and three sixes in his 46-ball 63-run outing.Skipper Shadab, who walked in during the 35th over, registered his sixth List-A fifty, as he raced to 65 off 45 balls clubbing five fours and two sixes. Usama Mir’s 13-ball cameo yielding 22 runs helped the Panthers post 328 runs before they were bundled out in 49.4 overs. For Dolphins, Usman Qadir bagged three wickets while Mir Hamza and Abbas Afridi picked up two each. Faheem Ashraf dismissed one batter.Scores in brief (Lake City Panthers won by 50 runs):Lake City Panthers 328 all out, 49.4 overs (Usman Khan 111, Shadab Khan 65, Haider Ali 63, Umar Siddiq 30; Usman Qadir 3-63, Mir Hamza 2-50, Mohammad Abbas Afridi 2-68)Dolphins 278 all out, 47 overs (Qasim Akram 65, Sahibzada Farhan 52, Faheem Ashraf 41, Mohammad Huraira 39, Saud Shakeel 24; Mohammad Hasnain 5-74, Usama Mir 2-48, Mubasir Khan 2-58)Player of the match: Mohammad Hasnain (Lake City Panthers) 

Sports Bulletin ReportMULTAN: The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed a five-member commentary panel and one presenter for the Pakistan v South Africa women series taking place at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan.The three-match T20I series is scheduled to take place on 16, 18 and 20 September, with the first ball of the first and second T20I matches to be bowled at 7.00pm, while the third T20I will be begin at 10.00am.Bazid Khan, Ejaz Ahmed, Hijab Zahid, Kainat Imtiaz and Sana Mir will be on the commentary panel for the series, while Sawera Pasha will serve as the presenter.Cricket fans in Pakistan will be able to watch the matches in high definition on A Sports. Livestreaming for viewers across the Pakistan region will be available on the PCB’s official YouTube channel.Also, to encourage fans to come to the ground, the entrance to the stadium will be free. The spectators will be required to bring their original ID card to get inside the stadium.

Harare (PR): T Ten Global is delighted to announce a digital partnership with FanCode in India. The deal will make FanCode the exclusive streaming partner for the upcoming Zim Afro T10, Abu Dhabi T10 and the Lanka T10, for next 3 years.After a successful inaugural season, Zim Afro T10 is back for the second edition, starting September 21 and is expected to produce 9 days of high-quality cricket, with the likes of David Warner, Dawid Malan, Yasir Shah, Carlos Brathwaite, and Colin Munro, all in the mix.The tournament will put the spotlight on cricket’s fastest format at the Harare Sports Club. The six franchises in the tournament are the Harare Bolts, Bulawayo Brave Jaguars, Cape Town Samp Army, Durban Wolves, Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers and the NYS Lagos.Each day will comprise of three white-ball matches, with the first scheduled for 3 pm local time and 6:30pm IST. The second game of the day will be at 5:15pm local time and 8:45pm IST, while the third game of the day will see the players take the field at 7:30pm local time and 11pm IST.During this festival of cricket, a total of 21 games will be played in the league stage for the Zim Afro T10, and after that the knockout phase will commence. The top 2 teams will square off in Qualifier 1, with the winner going through to the final. The third and fourth placed teams will then play the Eliminator, where the winner goes through to Qualifier 2, to face the runner-up of Qualifier 1. The team that wins Qualifier 2 will eventually play the winner of Qualifier 1 in the final, which is scheduled for the evening of September 29."We are thrilled to partner with the T Ten Global team as T10 cricket continues to capture the excitement of Indian fans. With leagues expanding in Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Abu Dhabi, the format is set to grow even more. This season, with stars like David Warner and Dawid Malan in action, we’re confident fans can look forward to top-quality cricket and thrilling matches between closely matched teams." said Prasana Krishnan, co-founder, FanCode.Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, T Ten Global Sports Founder and Chairman, said: "Such partnerships are a clear reflection of the growing global popularity of the T10 format. The Zim Afro T10 has witnessed a remarkable surge in interest since its inaugural season, and as we gear up for the first game of the new edition, we are thrilled to have FanCode on board, supporting our mission to expand T10 worldwide. With their invaluable backing, we are confident that we can accelerate the growth and reach of T10 cricket across the globe." 

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD:  The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today (Thursday) revealed Bahria Town as the title sponsor of the Champions One-Day Cup, which is set to run from 12-29 September in Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium.The nomenclature of the tournament, which is set to begin today with the opener between Misbah-ul-Haq mentored UMT Markhors and Saqlain Mushtaq mentored Panthers, will be Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup.Apart from Bahria Town as the title sponsor, the other official sponsors include Blue World City, Inverex Solar Energy, Brighto Paints and Kingdom Valley. Tapal will serve as the official tea partner of the Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup.Furthermore, Lake City has acquired the naming rights for the Panthers team and will be called Lake City Panthers. Earlier, Allied Bank, Nurpur and UMT (University of Management and Technology) had acquired the naming rights for Stallions, Lions and Markhors (formerly Wolves), respectively.Chief Operating Officer PCB, Salman Naseer said: “The PCB is delighted to welcome Bahria Town on board as the title sponsor of the Champions One-Day Cup. We are thankful to for their support to Champions Cup, which is being participated by country’s best of the best cricketers, and hope this partnership will yield great dividends for our players and teams. Bahria Town and the presence of the other esteemed official sponsors goes beyond mere sponsorship but it also symbolises a shared commitment towards uplifting the sport as the domestic level. I would also like to thank the teams’ official sponsors for their kind support to Pakistan Cricket. The Champions One-Day Cup, with the help of our commercial and media partners, promises to be a highly exciting tournament for the fans in Pakistan.”