Sports Bulletin

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (September 24, 2020):-Pakistan Cricket Board has withdrawn Balochistan First XI head coach Faisal Iqbal from the National T20 Cup after the former Test batsman confirmed his employers Pakistan International Airlines were looking into a matter, which he hoped would be resolved soon. The PCB said it would be unfair on Faisal Iqbal as well on his side and the tournament if he competed in a major domestic tournament until he had resolved and settled the matter with his parent organisation. The PCB added Faisal Iqbal would be reintegrated with his domestic side as soon as PIA gave him a clean chit along with a No Objective Certificate (NOC). Until such time, Wasim Haider will act as the Balochistan cricket team’s interim head coach.

SALMAN KHAN MULTAN (September 23, 2020):-An action-packed domestic cricket season 2020-21 is set to commence with the National T20 Cup for First XIs at the Multan Cricket Stadium in a week’s time. The tournament promises to provide rich entertainment to cricket fans with the presence of the cream of Pakistan T20 stars. Besides the established names of the shortest format of the game, the tournament also includes some exciting young talent in each of the six teams. The youngsters featuring for their respective teams can use the platform to stake a claim in the men’s national team for the limited overs series against Zimbabwe and impress franchise owners ahead of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021 Player Draft, which will be held in November. Head coaches of the six participating teams – Balochistan, Central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northern, Sindh and Southern Punjab – have each named one player from their side with the potential of making a big impact in the tournament, which will be played in double-league format for the first time. Balochistan – Akif Javed: Balochistan Head Coach Faisal Iqbal has named left-arm fast bowler Akif Javed as a player with immense potential who has the opportunity to further build his growing reputation. The Kohat-born pacer represented Islamabad United in the HBL PSL 2020 and played for Balochistan in last year’s National T20 Cup First XI tournament. The 19-year-old has picked 13 wickets in as many T20 games with a best return of three for 16. Faisal Iqbal: “Akif is an exceptional talent and we want to provide him a real opportunity of expressing his skills for which the management will fully back him. We will have a strategy in place for him and utilise his services accordingly. Akif can learn a lot in the entire season starting with the National T20 Cup in the company of two seasoned fast bowlers Umar Gul and Umaid Asif who can surely mentor him and help him further his skills which can in turn help his growth as a future prospect.” Central Punjab – Qasim Akram: Central Punjab Head Coach Shahid Anwar has backed the young and upcoming all-rounder Qasim Akram who left an impression with his all-round abilities and exceptional fielding in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020, which was played in South Africa. The 17-year-old provided a glimpse of his potential by scoring 54 off 50 to rescue Pakistan U19 from a difficult position against Zimbabwe in an U19 World Cup group match and took two wickets with his off-spin bowling in a miserly 10-over spell which took Pakistan to victory. Shahid made the call to select Qasim in the Central Punjab squad for the National T20 Cup and he feels that the youngster has a very bright future ahead of him. Shahid Anwar: “Qasim is an extremely talented cricketer. I picked him in the side based on his impressive performances in the U19 World Cup and the recommendations of the Pakistan U19 head coach Ijaz Ahmed. I feel he can turn into a future star if he continues to make progress and adds more skills to his game. The T20 format is not easy to cope with as it brings a lot of pressure on the players but at the same time it provides great learning experiences and opportunities which someone like Qasim can grab on. “I will be backing Qasim to play his natural game and not take any unnecessary pressure in the tournament.” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Mohammad Mohsin: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Head Coach Abdul Razzaq is backing leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin as one of the players to watch out at the National T20 Cup. The 24-year-old Mohsin has already represented Pakistan Emerging team and is widely tipped as a bright prospect. In 15 T20 matches, Mohsin who is representing Peshawar Zalmi in the HBL PSL 2020, has 14 wickets besides 120 runs with the bat which includes a best of 35 not out. Razzaq wants Mohsin to develop all-round batting skills and has been working on his batting in the lead-up to the tournament. Abdul Razzaq: “Mohsin is a talented cricketer and besides his leg-spin, batting comes naturally to him. I have been working hard with him in the nets and want to help him develop into an all-rounder with the ability to hit big. His height is a massive advantage for him as a leg-spinner and Mushtaq Ahmed has been helping him to develop his game. I would like to see Mohsin make it big in his career and represent Pakistan, for which the National T20 Cup provides him the perfect opportunity.” Northern – Zeeshan Malik: Northern Head Coach Mohammad Wasim is backing top-order batsman Zeeshan Malik to leave a mark in the six-team tournament. The 23-year-old Zeeshan has graduated from the Northern Second XI side and he possesses all the skills and shots to thrive at this level. Zeeshan hit a blazing 216 for Northern in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class event last season and Wasim believes the stroke maker can turn it on in T20 cricket as well. Mohammad Wasim: “Zeeshan is a very impressive batsman; he is one of those players who are a treat to watch when in full flow. His strength is his cut shot. Last year, he was unfortunate to miss out on representing us in the National T20 Cup but this year he has the opportunity to impress when he takes the field. Since the tournament is being played on a double-league format, Zeeshan should get the opportunities to express his talent and make a name in the shortest format of the game. I really hope he can make them count and further develop as a player with a bright future ahead of him.” Sindh – Azam Khan: Sindh Head Coach Basit Ali is backing the big-hitting potential of Azam Khan who made a real impact in the HBL PSL 2020 for Quetta Gladiators. The right-hander played two match winning innings for his franchise in the tournament, scoring 59 off 33 balls in the tournament opener against Islamabad United at the National Stadium Karachi before taking apart the home side Karachi Kings at the same venue with a dashing 46 off 30 balls. Basit feels Azam is a match winner with enormous potential and he would be backing him to deliver the goods for Sindh at the National T20 Cup. Basit Ali: “I saw him bat in the nets during our training session and I am really impressed by his talent. Azam has the ability to turn a game at any juncture with his big-hitting prowess. My aim would be to offer Azam a platform where he can deliver with an uncluttered mind while focusing on performing to the best of his ability. As a coach, I would be thoroughly backing him since I feel he has a bright future ahead of him and this tournament provides him the opportunity to further improve his game.” Southern Punjab – Zeeshan Ashraf: Southern Punjab Head Coach Abdur Rehman has named left-handed opener and wicketkeeper Zeeshan Ashraf as a player who can make a big impact for his side at the National T20 Cup. The 28-year-old Zeeshan was the top-scorer in last year’s National T20 Cup for Second XIs where his big hitting abilities were noticed by the First XI team management. Zeeshan graduated to first-class cricket where his impressive showing earned him a place in the Multan Sultans’ HBL PSL 2020 squad. He scored two half-centuries for Sultans and ahead of the Play-Off round of the tournament (to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in November); Zeeshan has the perfect opportunity to warm-up for the task. Abdur Rehman: “Zeeshan has all the skills and talent that constitute a good player. After playing for Sultans in the HBL PSL 2020, he has progressed further and has learned so much more about the requirements at the top-level. He would be high on confidence and I really hope he takes that confidence in the National T20 Cup. In the past year, he has made remarkable progress and has proven to be a genuine product of the system. This tournament can be another important milestone in his development as a player and the Southern Punjab management would be providing him the backing he needs.”

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL ISLAMABAD (September 23, 2020):-Pakistan will launch its ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League campaign by hosting Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series in October-November, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Wednesday. The 50-over matches against Zimbabwe will be played in Multan on 30 October, 1 and 3 November, which will be followed by three T20Is in Rawalpindi on 7, 8 and 10 November. The ICC has introduced the Super League to provide context to ODI cricket and will serve as a qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with the top seven sides automatically booking their spots for the India event. Featuring 13 teams, the 12 Test playing countries and the Netherlands, the Super League will see each side play four home and four away three-match series. PCB Director – International Cricket, Zakir Khan: “The confirmation of the series schedule against Zimbabwe after having successfully hosted Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as Marylebone Cricket Club and HBL Pakistan Super League V, in the 2019-20 season not only strengthens Pakistan’s reputation as a safe and secure country but also a healthy one after having successfully overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. “This series is critical to Pakistan as it aspires to qualify directly for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and, as such, every point in the Super League will count. Our last ODI series was against Sri Lanka, 12 months ago, so the boys will have to hit the ground running and try to pocket maximum points. “We have strategically scheduled Zimbabwe’s matches in Multan and Rawalpindi, the venues which will be hosting the National T20 Cup from 30 September to 18 October. By the time Zimbabwe arrives, we would have gained enough experience on bio-securing hotels, player transportation, the venues and the players’ dressing rooms as delivery of this series will be under strict Covid-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of all participants.” Zimbabwe will carry a 32-member squad to cater for both the formats as well as for the intra-squad warm-up matches. The squad will undergo two Covid-19 tests within a space of 48 hours prior to their departure in Harare, while the second tests will be conducted as soon as they arrive in Islamabad. Players and Player Support Personnel testing negative in Islamabad will be eligible to resume training at a venue, which the PCB will confirm in due course. Players and player support personnel testing positive during the tour will have to observe a five-day self-isolation and will only be allowed to re-integrate with the side after two negative tests. The series will be played behind closed doors. Series schedule (match timing and training schedule to be share in due course): 20 Oct – Zimbabwe arrival in Islamabad 30 Oct – 1st ODI, Multan 1 Nov – 2nd ODI, Multan 3 Nov – 3rd ODI, Multan 4 Nov – Travel to Islamabad 7 Nov – 1st T20I, Rawalpindi 8 Nov – 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi 10 Nov – 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi 11 Nov – Zimbabwe departure for Harare

SB REPORT ISLAMABAD (September 22, 2020):-All players and player support personnel, except two individuals whose results are pending, belonging to the Second XI teams of the six Cricket Associations tested negative in their second Covid-19 tests, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced today. As such, they will now enter the bio-secure zone at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore. From Wednesday, the six teams will begin their training for the National T20 Cup Second XI tournament at the Gaddafi Stadium and National High Performance Centre in Lahore. Fawad Alam, captain of Sindh for the National T20 Cup Second XI tournament, will travel to Lahore tomorrow and have his second Covid-19 test on 24 September. His first Covid-19 had returned negative. Meanwhile, Faisal Iqbal and Wasim Haider, the head coach and assistant coach of Balochistan First XI team, have returned negative tests and, as such, will be allowed to travel to Multan tomorrow following the completion of their quarantine.

By BIPIN DANI Devdutt Padikkal, who made his debut for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in the IPL is the best young (Under 20) batting talent in the World in T20, according to Prad Navaratnam, the Sri Lanka-born computer analyst. The left-handed opening batsman was the highest scorer for Virat Kohli-led team, which has Australia's current and South Africa's former captains- Aaron Finch and AB de Villiers. In 2019, Padikkal not only went on to cement his spot in all 3 Karnataka teams as an opening batsman alongside the likes of KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Mayank Agarwal & Karun Nair, but also topped the run-scorers list in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50 over competition) & the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (domestic T20 competition). "Focusing specifically on his T20 performances, Padikkal not only managed to not get out for a duck but also hit the most number of 6s in the competition",  Prad Navaratnam says. "The size of the grounds becomes irrelevant when you realise the 2nd highest number of 6s hit was 22. Padikkal managed to hit 50% more sixes than the next best". "Padikkal is best analysed when compared against other batters with more significant experience — Dinesh Karthik (KKR), Suryakumar Yadav (MI), Nitish Rana (KKR) & Kedhar Jadhav (CSK) — and took their performance data from the same competition.These are players that are regular fixtures in their IPL teams.  "Padikkal has managed a feat not many batters are able to achieve. In cricket, usually there are players that are able to score fast or players that score consistently well. In Padikkal, Karnataka & RCB have a player that has shown the ability to do both", Prad, who is a front runner for SLC's Brain Centre observed. Though Padikkal didn't hit a sixer in his debut IPL innings of 56 runs, but Prad, though his Impakt Score algorithm has noted that the average number of 6s per innings for the Top 200 batsmen in the last 12 months was 1.13 and Padikkal averaged 2.75. The Impakt Score algorithm is built to help rank every player according to their performance data and is made up of multiple performance metrics & calculations that look at a variety of measures including batting position, quality of bowlers faced, etc and then provide a single rating that I use to rank every batsman. "Like the rest of the world, I can’t wait to watch him take on the big leagues in the not too distant future",  Navaratnam, signed off.

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (September 22, 2020):-Pakistan was one of the first nations to embrace T20 cricket and was the fourth country after England, South Africa and Sri Lanka to stage a national T20 competition. To date, the Pakistan Cricket Board have organised 16 National T20 Cup tournaments, which have brought country’s top talent to forefront and has produced some of the most iconic performances – both individual and team – ever recorded in T20 cricket It is due to the talent produced by these tournaments that Pakistan have been a highly successful team at international level. They reached the final of the first two ICC Men’s T20 World Cups – in 2007 and 2009, winning the latter at Lord’s, the home of cricket, by defeating Sri Lanka to be crowned champions. Pakistan were the only team to reach at least the semi-finals of the first four ICC Men’s T20 World Cups. No team in the world has won more T20Is than Pakistan’s 93 and they were at the top of the ICC T20I Rankings for more than two years in a run that stretched until early this year. Over the course of their dominant run, Pakistan won 11 consecutive T20I series. The National T20 Cup has a rich history of introducing players who went on to serve Pakistan globally. The prime example being Saeed Ajmal who was man-of-the-final for taking three wickets in Faisalabad Wolves’ title win against Karachi Dolphins in the maiden edition of the tournament held in Lahore in 2005. The off-spinner later became number one bowler in the ICC T20I Rankings and played a vital role, taking 12 wickets, in Pakistan’s 2009 World Cup triumph. With 89 scalps, he is the leading wicket taker in the National T20 Cup’s history. The PCB’s domestic season 2020-21 will commence with the National T20 Cup First XI tournament, which commences on 30 September at the Multan Cricket Stadium. From the onset, Northern will begin title defence as they play the tournament-opener against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Teams from Sialkot and Lahore have been the most successful in the tournament’s history. They have shared 11 out of 16 titles between them. While Sialkot Stallions have won the tournament six times, teams from Lahore have won it on five occasions (Lahore Lions three, Lahore Blues one and Lahore Whites one). The remaining five titles have gone to Peshawar Panthers, Peshawar Region, Faisalabad Wolves, Karachi Blues and Northern. The Lahore Lions team that won the tournament in 2014 went on to play Champions League T20 that year in India where they famously defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in Raipur and narrowly missed out on a semi-final berth. It was in National T20 Cup that Sialkot Stallions caught the world’s attention by winning 25 matches in a row between 2006 and 2010 – the biggest winning streak in the format’s history. They won four consecutive tournaments in that period. The tournament has always been a host to many exciting performances. A case in point is Imran Nazir’s 50 off 14 balls for Sialkot Stallions against Lahore Eagles in Lahore in 2005, which remains the quickest 50 recorded on Pakistan soil in T20 cricket. Another enterprising innings in a tournament edition came off Umar Akmal’s bat when he knocked a 43-ball hundred – including 34 runs off an over – for Lahore Whites against Rawalpindi Region in Multan in 2016. This remains the fastest hundred in the tournament’s history. Khurram Manzoor has the most runs – 2,235 at an average of 30.20 – in tournament’s history including three centuries. Ahmed Shehzad is the other batsman to cross the 100-run mark thrice in the National T20 Cup’s history. Only one Pakistan batsman has registered the milestone of 150 in T20 cricket. It was in the 2017 edition when wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal smashed an unbeaten 150 for Lahore Whites against Islamabad Region at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. The record of the best bowling figures in an innings is held by Irfanuddin, off-spinner, who recorded six for 25 against Sialkot Stallions at Karachi’s National Stadium in the semi-final of the 2005-06 edition. Mohammad Asif has the cheapest five-wicket haul (five for 11) in the tournament’s history. It came in the same edition and at the same venue when Sialkot Stallions bowled out Faisalabad Wolves for 98.

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL ISLAMABAD (September 22, 2020):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday disclosed that around nine millions would be prize money of National Twenty 20 Cricket Tournament, which would be kicked off on 30 September, as the tournament’s winning prize money. Northern led by Imad Wasim will defend their title. The runner-up will receive PKR2.5million, while PKR400,000 will be shared equally between the tournament’s top performers which include player of the tournament, best batsman of the tournament, best bowler of the tournament and best wicketkeeper of the tournament. The best performer of every match will get PKR25,000 as the man-of-the-match award while the top performer of the tournament’s finale at 18 October will be rewarded with PKR35,000. These will be over and above earnings for the players from what they will receive as match fee and monthly retainers and is in line with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s policy of providing incentives to top performing cricketers, which will enhance the quality of domestic cricket and lead to a competitive environment while increasing the interest of the viewers. The top performing domestic cricketers are already in line to earn to in a range of PKR3.2million to PKR1.8million only on the basis of their match fee and improved and enhanced monthly retainer structure, which was approved by the PCB’s Board of Governors in their 58th meeting. More details are available here. Director High Performance, Nadeem Khan: “The Pakistan Cricket Board’s focus is to invest the money that it earns back in cricket by providing the players a bigger chunk of the pie through substantial and lucrative rewards so they excel in the game. “There has been a massive improvement in the remuneration structure this year which presents better earning opportunities for the players. The PCB despite the Covid-19 pandemic has invested more in the prize money pool with the number of group matches being doubled this year. The PCB had put in great effort to make sure that the 2020-21 domestic season was organised as it was important for the livelihood of our players. “As such, now the players not only have more competitive cricket to polish their skills and get more matches under their belt, but they also have more earning opportunities.” The National T20 Cup First XI tournament will be played from 30 September to 18 October at Multan Cricket Stadium and the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.    

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (September 20, 2020):-As many as 125 players and player support personnel belonging to six Cricket Association Second XI squads for the National T20 Cup were invited to their respective central stations today after they tested negative in their first Covid-19 tests. They will undergo their second tests on 21 September under the supervision of the PCB medical team at their respective central stations, which are Lahore’s Hotel PC for Central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northern and Southern Punjab, and Muridke Country Club for Balochistan and Sindh.

By BIPIN DANI Family and friends of Yuvraj Singh have not forgotten the date (September 19) when the all-rounder took a shine to Stuart Broad 13 years ago. Yuvraj Singh became the second batsman, after Herschelle Gibbs, to hit six sixes in an over in international cricket (in the World T20 encounter against England at the Kingsmead, Durban). The bowler under the withering onslaught was Stuart Broad. Yuvraj launched the first ball over cow corner; the second - measured at 111 yards - disappeared over backward square leg; the third and fourth rocketed over extra cover and point; the fifth flew over midwicket; and the sixth six landed in the stands at long-on. Yuvraj also hit a 12-ball half-century. "I invited all cricketers who played with him right from his childhood and celebrated Yuvi's 6 sixes with six cakes prepared for the occasion at DAV college cricket ground (Chandigarh), '' the father, former fast bowler, Yograj Singh, said exclusively.   "Champion of champions" were the words written on each of the 6 cakes. Yuvraj and his wife joined the celebration on a video. "I have known Yuvraj from a very young age. He liked to hit the ball from a very young age. He has enormous talent and can make a comeback if he wishes to", Ajay Sikka, the former Ranji Trophy cricketer, who attended the celebration, said.  Nagesh Guptal, the coach in Chandigarh, who also attended the party, said, "it was clear from a very young age that he is going to make it big in international cricket and so he did". "He once in a State level match at UNA hit a whole lot of balls out of the ground. So from a very early age you could recognize the power he had that gold like swing was different from other players". Girish Bhanot, Sanjay Dhull, Gurinder Singh, Munish Aggarwal, Ajay Sikka and few other cricketer-friends attended the party, which was followed by a dance and a dinner.

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (September 19, 2020):-All players and player support personnel of the six Cricket Association First XI sides, who were invited to their respective central stations, have tested negative in their second Covid-19 tests. They will now enter the bio-secure zone today in which they will be able to roam and interact with each other freely. Balochistan and Sindh, who were stationed at Lahore Country Club Murdike, will travel to Multan’s Ramada Hotel in team busses to join the other four sides. Central Punjab wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal had requested to delay his admission in the bio-secure zone and, as such, his second Covid-19 test will be done on 23 September. Subject to returning a negative result, Kamran will join his team on 24 September. Like the other 102 squad members, Kamran had also tested negative in the first Covid-19 test. Meanwhile, for breaching the Covid-19 protocols, Balochistan head coach Faisal Iqbal and assistant coach Wasim Haider have been quarantined at Lahore Country Club Murdike. They will be tested twice over the next five days and will be required to return negative results in both tests before they are allowed to join the team in Multan. Both Faisal and Wasim will bear the costs of these tests. Head of PCB Covid-19 Medical Team, Dr Riaz Ahmed: “The Pakistan Cricket Board has zero tolerance policy and will take stern action against those who breach the Covid-19 protocols over the course of the season. “The strict implementation of these protocols, which have been designed after meticulous planning, is the need of the hour. Such breaches have the potential to put the whole season in jeopardy and, more importantly, the lives of fellow players, coaches and all those associated with the game in danger. “This should be a message for everyone involved in the upcoming season that the PCB will take strict action against anyone who decides to go against the protocols. As we are in unprecedented times, this season is going to be different than the previous ones and, as such, everyone’s cooperation is necessary to make it a success.” From Sunday, the six teams will begin their training at the Multan Cricket Stadium and Inzamam-ul-Haq High Performance Centre to prepare for the National T20 Cup, which commences from 30 September.