Sports Bulletin

SALMAN KHAN MULTAN (October 2, 2020):-A sparkling performance by Shaheen Shah Afridi 5 for 20 helped Rizwan’s XI to earn a big victory by 8 wickets against Balochistan in the National T20 Cricket Cup 2020 fixture at Multan Cricket Stadium Multan. Shaheen caused early inroads and then returned in the death overs to finish with figures of 4-0-20-5 to restrict Balochistan to 152 for nine after they had elected to bat first. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa top-order then milked Balochistan’s bowling to race to victory in 17 overs for the loss of two wickets. It was a good bounce back by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after they had suffered a 79-run defeat against defending champions Northern in a tall-scoring match on Wednesday. Balochistan will have a chance to avenge for this loss when they will again meet Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Rawalpindi on 10 October. Shaheen stole the third day honours after Pakistan’s young batting guns had dominated the first two days of the 33-match competition. Shaheen removed Imam-ul-Haq (9) and Awais Zia (24) in his first spell and then returned to dismiss Ammad Butt (4), Yasir Shah (0) and Umaid Asif (7) as Balochistan managed 37 runs in the last five overs to finish at 152 for nine. Reflecting on his and his team performance, Shaheen Shah Afridi said: “I am very pleased with my performance and want to thank Allah for my success. I enjoy my bowling, I try hard wherever I play, in the first match we didn’t have an idea that the pitch will be so flat, in the second game today we changed our plans and worked out what length to bowl on the pitch and I am happy we got success with the strategy.” Shaheen was well supported by fellow left-armer Usman Shinwari who picked up two wickets but went for 48 runs. For Balochistan, Imran Butt finished as the top-scorer with a 32-ball 37, while Haris Sohail (29) and Awais Zia (24) were the other contributors. In their 153-run chase, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa openers Mohammad Rizwan (57 not out) and Fakhar Zaman (25) provided a 44-run start in less than five overs, before Rizwan and Mohammad Hafeez (45,  25b, 5x4, 3x6) added 66 runs for the second wicket. Rizwan returned unbeaten on 57, an innings that came off  42 balls and included five four and two sixes. Iftikhar Ahmed (27) was the other not out batsmen as the third wicket put on 47 runs in  30 balls. Scores in brief Balochistan 152-9, 20 overs (Imran Butt 37, Haris Sohail 29, Awais Zia 24; Shaheen Shah Afridi 5-20, Usman Shinwari 2-48) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 157-2, 17 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 57 not out, Mohammad Hafeez 45, Iftikhar Ahmed 29 not out, Fakhar Zaman 25) Result – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won by eight wickets Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Saturday’s fixtures: 1500 PST - Northern v Central Punjab. Aftab Gillani and Faisal Khan Afridi (on-field umpires), Waleed Yaqub (third umpire), Nasir Hussain Snr (fourth umpire); Iftikhar Ahmed (match referee). 1930 PST - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Southern Punjab. Nasir Hussain Snr and Zameer Haider (on-field umpires), Qaiser Waheed (third umpire), Faisal Khan Afridi (fourth umpire); Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)    

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (October 2, 2020):-Australia have retained top positions in the ICC Women’s Team Rankings for both ODIs and T20Is while India have overtaken New Zealand to grab third position in the T20I table, after the annual rankings update carried out on Friday. In other noteworthy changes in the latest update, which expunges results from the 2016-17 season, weights the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons at 50% and the 2019-20 matches at 100%, South Africa have overtaken New Zealand to fourth place and Bangladesh have leapfrogged Sri Lanka to eighth in the ODI table. Record lead for Australia in ODIs: Six-time ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup champions and winners of both editions of the ICC Women’s Championship, Australia’s stellar display during the rating period saw them win 20 of 21 ODIs, increasing their tally by eight points to 160. Their massive lead of 39 points over second-placed India is the largest by any team (men or women) in any form of the game. It comes on the back of 3-0 series wins over India, Pakistan, New Zealand, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka and an earlier 2-1 win over England at the start of the ICC Women’s Championship, only a few months after England had won the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2017. India (121) and England (119) have lost four points each while clinging on to their second and third positions, respectively, while South Africa (107) enjoy a 13-point lead over New Zealand (94), with the West Indies (85), Pakistan (77), Bangladesh (61) and Sri Lanka (47) following in that order. India’s gain only change in top 15 of T20Is list: The women’s T20I rankings table sees Australia and England retain the top two positions, their points tally remaining 291 and 280, respectively. India, who made the final of this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, have overtaken New Zealand, in what is the only change in the top 15 of the 56-team list. The biggest improvement in rankings has been registered by Brazil, who are up 11 places to 27th, after a gain of 15 rating points, while the biggest ranking fall has been for Malaysia, who are down from 31st to 38th. Samoa (up two places to 16th), Indonesia (up two places to 20th) and the United States of America (up four places to 31st) are among other teams to have made notable progress.

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL ISLAMABAD (October 2, 2020):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has invited 27 players for a women’s High Performance Camp, which will be kicked off from October 8, 2020 at National Cricket Stadium. According to media department of PCB, the announcement of women’s High Performance Camp has completed a slow but careful and strategic resumption of all cricket activities. The 2020-21 season had begun on 30 September with the National T20 Cup and the six Cricket Association U19 squads were named on Thursday for the three-day and one-day National U19 Tournaments, which will be played from 13 October to 29 November. The 27 cricketers invited for the High Performance Camp are: Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana Khan, Iram Javed, Javeria Khan, Javeria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Kaynat Hafeez, Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali, Nahida Khan, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz and Syeda Aroob Shah As part of the PCB Covid-19 protocols, all 27 players and player support personnel will undergo first round of testing at their residences, the cost of which will be reimbursed by the PCB. Players and player support personnel with negative tests will then assemble in Karachi, where they will undergo the second round of tests before being allowed to integrate with the larger group. During the camp, the players and player support personnel will undergo third round of testing to ensure their health and safety. During the training period, the players and player support personnel will follow the bio-secure protocols while being stationed at a hotel in Karachi. The High Performance Department will appoint the player support personnel, who will be announced in due course. Meanwhile, Lahore-based cricketers have been visiting the NHPC and taking advantage of the presence of experienced coaches in Atiq-uz-Zaman and Mohammad Zahid. The two coaches have split their time between men and women cricketers, while giving them the required attention and training as per their requirements. Atiq-uz-Zaman: “I have been impressed with their fitness standards. Despite the Covid-19 lockdown, the girls have maintained good fitness, which reflects their positive and professional approach. Fitness is the key, which specially helps in fielding and I am pleased with the dedication these girls are showing to further hone their skills. They are willing to go an extra yard to improve something which hasn’t been traditionally a hallmark of our cricket.” Mohammad Zahid: “Fast bowling is all about rhythm and the quickies are not too far from the top flight. The more these girls will bowl in the nets, the better they will get. Our objective is to help them rise to the standard where they play and perform in competitive cricket. “David Hemp’s appointment is a decision in the right direction. He is an experienced coach and understands the psyche, dynamics and requirements of women cricketers. All the coaches at the NHPC look forward to welcoming him in Lahore and will support and assist him in any way we can.” Wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz said: “It is very refreshing to be at the NHPC, which provides the cricket atmosphere and encourages professional cricketers to get actively involved and utilise the facilities. We have been missing this environment for nearly six months but with the opening of the NHPC and availability of renowned coaches, it is helping all of us to cover up for the lost time.” All-rounder Aliya Riaz said: “I know our domestic season has not been announced though the High Performance Camp has been unveiled, but we are taking this period as pre-season training and preparation so that they are not rusty when our cricket resumes. It is a blessing to have such outstanding training facilities with qualified coaches also available to us. We are thoroughly enjoying these training sessions and hope hard work in these sessions will pay off when our cricket commences.”

SB REPORT LAHORE (October 2, 2020);-Southern Punjab and Sindh won their matches on Friday in the ongoing Second XI National T20 Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium. Northern v Southern Punjab Zain Abbas’ unbeaten 90 off 52 balls secured a seven-wicket win for Southern Punjab in their first match of the Second XI National T20 Cup. Zain and opener Tayyab Tahir (40 off 41) stitched a 105-run stand for the second wicket to help their team overhaul the 148-run target in 18.3 overs. Out of Southern Punjab’s three wickets, two were picked by Athar Mehmood, right-arm medium fast, for 20 runs. Southern Punjab’s Mohammad Irfan, slow left-arm, took three wickets for 36 runs, while left-arm fast Zia-ul-Haq and off-spinner Salman Ali shared four wickets between them after their captain Mohammad Naveed Yasin elected to bowl first. Nasir Nawaz and Omair Masood were the only notable run-getters with 29 and 26 for Northern as they made 147 for eight in 20 overs. Scores in brief: Northern 147-8, 20 overs (Nasir Nawaz 29, Omair Masood 26; Mohammad Irfan 3-36, Zia-ul-Haq 2-26, Salman Ali 2-28) Southern Punjab 148-3, 18.3 overs (Zain Abbas 90 not out, Tayyab Tahir 40; Athar Mehmood 2-20) Southern Punjab won by seven wickets Balochistan v Sindh Sindh rode to a five-wicket win on the back of Hassan Mohsin’s quickfire 34-ball 71 not out against Balochistan. The 22-year-old made a cakewalk of the 164-run target, smashing eight fours and four sixes, as his team chased it down with three balls spare. He along with Saad Ali (33 off 30) knitted an 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Balochistan’s slow-left arm Jalat Khan took two wickets for 29 runs. Captain Azeem Ghumman, who scored run-a-ball 34, and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, who scored a half-century, provided Balochistan a 77-run opening stand after the former elected to bat. Abdul Wahid smashed five fours and four sixes to score 73 off 49. Ayyaz Tasawar, batting at four, made 27 off 16, which included three fours and two sixes. Scores in brief: Balochistan 163-5, 20 overs (Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 73, Azeem Ghumman 34, Ayyaz Tasawar 27) Sindh 164-5, 19.3 overs (Hassan Mohsin 71, Saad Ali 33, Ammad Alam 23; Jalat Khan 2-29) Sindh won by five wickets Khyber Pakhtunkhwa play Southern Punjab in the first match on Saturday, while Balochistan and Central Punjab face-off in the second match of the day.

SALMAN KHAN MULTAN (October 1, 2020):-Balochistan overcame Sindh in their opening contest of National T-20 Cricket Cup 2020 by just 2 runs in the last over of the game at Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Sindh required 11 off the last over. Umaid Asif allowed the opposition batsmen only two singles from the first three balls before Sohail Khan smashed the lanky pacer for a six on the fourth. Sindh lost two wickets as non-strikers Hassan Khan and Mohammad Hasnain tried to sneak singles on the last two balls with Sohail (31 not out from 16 balls) failing to make a connection with the ball. Umaid provided Balochistan an earlier breakthrough in their defence of 181-run target by dismissing Sharjeel Khan (10 off eight) on the first ball of the fourth over. All-rounder Amad Butt, struck in back-to-back overs – fifth and seventh – accounting for Saud Shakeel (13 off eight) and opener Khurram Manzoor (14 off 17). Amad’s and Balochistan’s next wicket was Sindh captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (20 off 21) as the right-arm fast finished with three wickets for 39 runs. Asad Shafiq was the top-scorer for Sindh with a 25-ball 32, which included four fours, as he held an end. His stay at the crease was curtailed by 19-year-old Akif Javed, who later bowled Anwar Ali (20 off 11, two sixes) as he returned two for 32 in four overs. Earlier, Balochistan posted 180 for eight thanks to Bismillah Khan’s eighth T20 half-century after their captain Haris Sohail chose to bat. The wicketkeeper-batsman smashed four fours and three sixes in his 42-ball 58 as he joined Imam-ul-Haq (10 off 11) in the third over with 32 runs on the board after opener Awais Zia scored a breezy nine-ball 25 – hitting four fours and a six.  Reflecting on his performance, Bismillah Khan, who was named man-of-the-match, told pcb.com.pk: “My aim was to stay at the wicket and bat deep as we had lost wickets earlier in the innings. Spending time at the crease allowed me to score runs. “I receive a lot of support from the people of Balochistan and my hometown Quetta. They express their happiness through text messages and calls whenever I score runs.” Bismillah and Haris (25 off 14) knitted a 67-run partnership for the fourth-wicket before the Balochistan captain was run out in the 15th over. Sindh’s Mohammad Hasnain took two wickets for 31 runs. The two teams meet again in the tournament on 11 October at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. Scores in brief: Balochistan 180-8, 20 overs (Bismillah Khan 58, Awais Zia 25, Haris Sohail 25; Mohammad Hasnain 2-31) Sindh 178-9, 20 overs (Asad Shafiq 32, Sohail Khan 31 not out, Anwar Ali 20, Sarfaraz Ahmed 20; Amad Butt 3-39, Akif Javed 2-32) Balochistan won by two runs

SB REPORT LAHORE (October 1, 2020):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed an Australia-based David Hemp coach for national women team, said an official of cricket board media department on Thursday. Hemp, who turns 50 next week, has previously coached the Melbourne Stars’ and Victorian women's cricket teams in Australia’s Women's Big Bash League between 2015 and 2020, and is also a former Bermuda and Glamorgan captain. Hemp played 271 first-class matches and scored over 15,000 runs for Glamorgan, Free State and Warwickshire. He also represented Bermuda in 22 one-day internationals from 2006 to 2009, scoring 641 runs with a century and four half-centuries. Hemp is a qualified UK level four coach who has had a coaching role with Australia’s team for cricketers with an intellectual disability; Premier Cricket’s Prahran and was the director of coaching at Scotch College. Urooj Mumtaz, Acting Head of Pakistan Women’s Wing and Chair of women’s selection committee: “The PCB is pleased to have appointed David Hemp as Pakistan national women’s team head coach. David brings with him wealth of experience and knowledge, more importantly around women’s cricket development, which is extremely critical to our strategy as part of our endeavour to increase the pool of cricketers and also help them top rise to the level of the front-running international sides. “David has worked for five years in Australia with the Melbourne and Victoria women’s sides and he is a perfect fit for the role we were looking for as he will be able to use that experience and knowledge to translate into our system that will ultimately benefit Pakistan women’s cricket. “I am sure our players will make optimum use of David’s expertise and strict work ethics, while I am sure David will have an enjoyable time when he relocates to Pakistan to join the elite company of illustrious coaching staff of Atiq-uz-Zaman, Grant Bradburn, Mohammad Yousuf, Mohammad Zahid and Saqlain Mushtaq at our National High Performance Centre.” David takes over from Iqbal Imam, who had succeeded Mark Coles. Pakistan will feature in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier next year for the event proper that will take place in New Zealand in 2022. The PCB had advertised for the role on 18 August and a total of 38 coaches, including 18 foreigners from various Test playing countries had expressed their interests. The final interviews were carried by Wasim Khan (PCB Chief Executive), Urooj Mumtaz and Grant Bradburn (Head of International Coach Development) last week.

SALMAN KHAN MULTAN (September 30, 2020):-A record second-wicket partnership between Zeeshan Malik and Haider Ali orchestrated a 79-run win for Northern against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the opening match of the National T20 Cup First XI tournament at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Northern were 24 for one after three overs when 19-year-old Haider, who made his Pakistan debut in the last of the three T20Is against England earlier this month, joined Zeeshan at the crease. The two batsmen added 180 runs in 14.1 overs that lifted the defending champions to 242 for three, the second highest score in a T20 innings in the history of the National T20 Cup, after Shadab Khan elected to bat first. Haider smashed five sixes and seven fours in his blazing 90 off 48 balls. Reflecting on his performance, Haider told pcb.com.pk: “It is always a great feeling to start off a tournament on a high and this innings has provided me a lot of confidence. Though I am a little disappointed on missing out what would have been my maiden century in T20 cricket, I thoroughly enjoyed the partnership with Zeeshan Malik. Our decision to bat first paid dividends as it allowed us to make the most of the true bounce on offer. “My aim is to now build on this start and play a vital role in helping my side defend the title.” Zeeshan, the 23-year-old right-handed batsman, smashed a 47-ball 77, which was studded with eight fours and three sixes, before Junaid Khan, who took two wickets for 44 runs in four overs, bowled him. Asif Ali struck three fours and a six in 10 balls during his 23 not out. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were dealt an early blow as Mohammad Nawaz, left-arm orthodox, bowled Fakhar Zaman on the fourth ball of the innings. By the first ball of the seventh over, they had lost their captain Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Hafeez, which reduced them to 46 for three. Problems amplified for them as Shoaib Malik fell in the 13th over after scoring a 19-ball 20, following which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lost track of the run chase. Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Nawaz took two wickets apiece for 34 and 37 runs, while Musa Khan dismissed Mohammad Mohsin (14 off 10), Shaheen Shah Afridi (0) and Usman Khan Shinwari (0) in the last over. At the end of the 20 overs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were 163 for nine. They have a chance to avenge this defeat on 16 October when the two sides meet again at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. Scores in brief: Northern 242-3, 20 overs (Haider Ali 90, Zeeshan Malik 77, Asif Ali 23 not out, Ali Imran 21; Junaid Khan 2-44) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 163-9, 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 62, Iftikhar Ahmed 28, Shoaib Malik 28; Musa Khan 3-31, Sohail Tanvir 2-34, Mohammad Nawaz 2-37)

SALAMAN KHAN: MULTAN (September 30, 2020):-A star-studded commentary panel, including leading international commentators in Bazid Khan, Ramiz Raja and Wasim Akram, will call the 33-match National T20 Cup that will begin with the opening match between defending champions Northern and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday afternoon at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Broadcast coverage will start at 2.45pm, with the first ball in the PKR9million tournament to be bowled at 3pm. The second match of the day will get underway at 7.30pm. The PCB as part of its commitment to its cricket fans and followers, will produce live pictures in High Definition, which will be relayed in TV lounges by PTV Sports. As part of improving its coverage and promotion of domestic cricket, the PCB will produce the tournament through 14 High Definition cameras, including eight manned and six unmanned cameras, while enhanced international standard graphics will further improve the viewers’ experiences and bring them closer to live action. Last year, the season was covered with 12 cameras. Besides the famed trio of Bazid, Ramiz and Wasim, Pakistan men’s national Test team captain Azhar Ali will also be a part of the commentary panel following a successful stint as an expert and analyst during the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020. Former Pakistan women’s national team captain and one of the most celebrated and globally recognised women cricketer, Sana Mir, will also be a member of the distinguished panel. She will be accompanied in the commentators’ box by fellow women cricketer Marina Iqbal. Renowned TV presenter Zainab Abbas will present for eight days, while Sawera Pasha will host the pre- and post-match shows. Tariq Saeed will lead the panel of Urdu commentators as the PCB has fulfilled its fans’ demand and expectations to provide insight in the local language through specialist commentators. Noted commentator and presenter Sikander Bakht, and first-class cricketer Shehzar Mohammad will also be part of the commentary team. Ramiz will be part of the panel on the opening two days and would then return for the semi-finals and final that will be staged in Rawalpindi, while Wasim will be available for the weekend games in Rawalpindi on 9, 10 and 11 October. Bazid will be calling the entire Multan-leg. Azhar Ali: “I am really excited to commentate on the National T20 Cup following the wonderful experience I had at the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020. This tournament is set to capture the imagination of cricket fans across the country with the great pool of players available in the shape of country’s top T20 talent. “It is also an opportunity for me to have a close look at some of the emerging and U19 players who are featuring in the tournament as the instant nature of the format makes it a big test of temperament for the young and upcoming players.” Bazid Khan: “The National T20 Cup promises to be a scintillating event and it’s heartening to see that efforts are being put in to promote quality cricket. I look forward to calling the action this season and I hope that the Pakistani fans will enjoy our coverage.” Ramiz Raja: “The National T20 Cup couldn’t have come at a better time for all of us. We have all had to sit back due to Covid-19 but cricket is making a proper comeback through this exciting tournament where Pakistan’s top talent will be on display. “I am also looking forward to being a part of the commentary panel for our domestic cricket where we will contribute to further elevate this exciting product that carries immense potential to grow and succeed.” Sana Mir: “I have experienced cricket in the backyard, on the streets, at grounds and at international level and also from the studios lately. Now this will be the first time for me to experience it from the commentary box. I hope it is a bit easier compared to being on the ground and I am totally looking forward to it.” Wasim Akram: “I am very excited to be a part of the broadcast team for the National T20 Cup. We are all right behind this new domestic structure and I am sure it will be a great viewing experience for all the fans.” Zainab Abbas: “I’m really looking forward to the National T20 Cup and its regional rivalries.  It feels good to be part of the broadcasting panel and I am glad that steps are being taken to improve the quality of production. Multan and Rawalpindi are both excellent venues and we will get to see quality cricket in an action-packed event.”

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL ISLAMABAD (September 29, 2020):-The National T-20 Cricket Cup 2020 will start from Wednesday at Multan Cricket Stadium, as the second phase will be held at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi from October 9. The final will be played at same venue on October 18 behind the doors. The 33-match tournament, which will be broadcast live in its entirety in High Definition on PTV Sports, marks the beginning of competitive cricket in the country after more than six months and, as such, serves as the curtain-raiser for the 2020-21 domestic season. The Pakistan Cricket Board is the first cricket board to announce and organise a complete domestic season in these unprecedented and difficult Covid-19 times. The PCB has made comprehensive arrangements for the upcoming season to protect the wellbeing and livelihood of the domestic cricketers. Due to the ongoing pandemic and to ensure health and safety of all competitors, the tournament will be played behind closed doors under strict Covid-19 protocols. The tournament will be played in two phases: the first one running from 30 September to 6 October in Multan and the second phase to be staged from 9-18 October in Rawalpindi. With two ACC Asia Cups and ICC Men’s T20 World Cups scheduled for the next two years, this year’s National T20 Cup First XI tournament will be played on double-league basis to provide adequate preparation to the players who are likely to represent the Pakistan men’s national team in these events. The tournament also provides an opportunity for the country’s best short format cricketers to impress the national selectors and, also, the HBL Pakistan Super League franchise owners and management ahead of the Player Draft for the 2021 season, which is scheduled to be held in November. With a coveted trophy and a total prize money of PKR9million on offer, Northern, who will be led by Shadab Khan until their captain Imad Wasim (currently engaged in the Vitality Blast T20 tournament in the UK) joins the side in Rawalpindi, will be eager to defend their title. And, the other five teams will be fighting tooth and nail to secure berths in the final of the tournament, which will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on 18 October. Balochistan will aim to take the next step after they ended as runner-up in the last edition of the tournament, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Southern Punjab, who managed to reach the semi-finals, will be keen on bettering their last performances. Central Punjab and Sindh will be under special focus as their last National T20 Cup, played at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium, was cut short for their failure to qualify for the semi-finals. In the Multan-leg Central Punjab will be led by Saad Nasim, Central Punjab’s regular captain Babar Azam will join the side for the Rawalpindi-leg. Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq, bowling coach Waqar Younis, Head of High Performance Coaching, Grant Bradburn, and Head of International Player Development, Saqlain Mushtaq, will watch the matches as part of their responsibility to scout the young talent, help the coaching staff and bridge communication gap between the domestic cricket and High Performance Centre. Balochistan captain Haris Sohail: “We are really excited and want to give a better performance than last year when we lost the final. Our aim is to win the trophy and we have worked hard in the build-up. Last year, we played great cricket and it was only a passage of five to six overs in the final where we could not play good cricket and that is where I feel we lost the final. “We have a strong top and middle-order while in Yasir Shah and Kashif Bhatti we have quality spinners, we have a strong pace attack with the addition of Umaid Asif.” Saad Nasim captain Central Punjab: “It is a big opportunity for me to lead Central Punjab in the first leg of the tournament; we have some exciting U19 talent that has given new energy to our squad. We are determined to put the disappointing performances of last year behind us and target a semi-final spot, of course with an eye on the tournament trophy by playing the final. We have good combination of youth and experience. Kamran Akmal and Abid Ali will lead the batting charge with their experience and quality. “Bilal Asif and Naseem Shah are quality bowlers in our ranks and we have upcoming players like Rizwan Hussain, Abdullah Shafiq, Qasim Akram and Sohaibullah. We also have quality all-rounders in Zafar Gohar and Usman Qadir. We have a balanced side full of talent and youngsters who have a bright future. Our aim is to play positive cricket and make it all the way in the tournament.” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captain Mohammad Rizwan: “Our team has all bases covered as we have strong batting and bowling departments. We are known for playing an aggressive brand of cricket and many people are rating us as favourites. “We play Northern, the defending champions, in the opening match of the tournament and it is going to be good competition as both teams are highly competitive.” Northern vice-captain Shadab Khan: “Leading Northern in the Multan-leg is a big opportunity for me, which I am aiming to grab with both hands. We are the title defenders and our team and the combination is pretty much the same as the last year. The boys are preparing hard and are looking in good shape despite returning to cricket after some time, which makes me confident that we will be able to defend our title. “Two youngsters I am looking forward to making a mark in this tournament are Zeeshan Malik, who played with me at the U19 level, and Haider Ali, who could not play last year but is all set to play a vital role in our team this season.” Sindh captain Sarfaraz Ahmed: “I think in our team, Sharjeel Khan will play a key role. He is a dashing batsman and stroke player and when he plays well he makes a match one-sided. In T20 format, you need to perform in both batting and bowling departments, we have balance and experience in both departments. “We would aim to gain and then sustain momentum with an eye on the semi-finals; T20 is a kind of format where momentum is the key and if we get that early we can go a long way in the tournament.” Southern Punjab captain Shan Masood: “We are well-aware that this tournament is going to be highly competitive as all the top T20 players in the country are participating in it. With this tournament being played on double-league basis, what matters the most is how the teams finish and carry the momentum from here to the Rawalpindi-leg. “I am very happy with the core of our team, which might not include big names but comprise youngsters who will be empowered and will be designated responsibilities in all departments. Our coach Abdur Rehman has put in a lot of thought in selecting this team, which provides us ample options depending on what side we play in which stadium. I am very confident that if we stick to our plans, we will play the final in Rawalpindi.” National T20 Cup Second XI tournament: The National T20 Cup for the Second XIs will be played at the Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan’s home of cricket, from 1-8 October. The tournament will be played on single-league basis to increase competition amongst the six Cricket Association Second XI teams as they will aim to put their foot on gas from the outset. This tournament will further help the First XI teams gauge their up and coming cricketers from their Cricket Associations and, as such, will serve as a pathway for the players to graduate to the top domestic level.

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD:-The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been recognised for two groundbreaking digital initiatives at the prestigious Leaders in Sports Awards 2019. The ICC’s coverage of the record-breaking ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and the bold collaboration with Wimbledon for the One Day in July video both took home awards. With its coverage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the ICC set out to attract new fans in Australia and around the world, bring people closer than ever before and create a digital and broadcast experience like no other to elevate our sport’s female superstars to a stage of their own. With its coverage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the ICC set out to attract new fans in Australia and around the world, bring people closer than ever before and create a digital and broadcast experience like no other to elevate our sport’s female superstars to a stage of their own. New stars were made for millions of young girls and boys around the world. Then, on the 8th March – International Women’s Day 2020 – 86,174 fans packed into the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground to witness history being made in what was not just a life changing moment in women’s cricket, but in women’s sport. The results speak for themselves. The event was the most successful women’s cricket tournament ever. The results of the coverage included: 1.1b billion video views on ICC platforms, which was a 20x increase on the last Women’s T20 World Cup in 2018 90 million global television viewers and over 5.4 billion minutes in India alone A 131% increase in global unique broadcast audience from the 2018 event and a 103% increase in overall global viewing numbers 12 billion sponsor impressions making it the most successful women’s ICC tournament ever The One Day in July in collaboration with Wimbledon was a unique collaborative approach between two major global sporting bodies, capturing the drama, emotion, and action from one of sport's most memorable days. The video reached 5.9M people across the ICC’s digital platforms and was watched more than 4.3M times. ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said: “We are delighted to receive the prestigious Leaders in Sports Award for two initiatives that showcase how cricket connects with the world. This is simply testimony to the fact that cricket truly has the power to engage more deeply with diverse audiences across the globe. It is proof that our commitment to the game and our journey of digital transformation has begun well and is on the right track.”  At a time when COVID-19 has severely impacted live sports, the ICC’s channels have gone from strength to strength, in being able to engage with cricket fans across the world in the first half of 2020. Some of the highlights include: A staggering 1.65 billion video views in the first half of 2020, ensuring the ICC channel topped the rankings in terms of video consumption among leading sporting bodies on Facebook Across the April-June lockdown period, overall interactions on the ICC Facebook page were more than two and a half times higher than other leading leagues and sports bodies across the world Daily video consumption on Facebook jumped from 3 million minutes viewed to 15 million minutes per day (outside of the ICC live events)