Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Australia scored 232 for 5 runs on the first day of third Test match against hosts Pakistan at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore on Monday, Usman Kawaja played a responsible innings of 91 runs and missed his ton second time in the series. He was wasted his wicket on 9 in the first Test match at Pindi cricket Stadium. Shaheen Afridi started the day with a magical spell and got two wickets of visitor team, when they had only 8 score on the board. David Warner could score only 7 runs while Marnus Labuschagne went back to dressing room with a single run. Wicketkeeper Rizwan took his catch on the bowling of Afridi. Usman Kawaja and Steven Smith took the team’s total 146 after aggregating 138 runs for third wicket that stabilized the visitors’ position. Later, Nseem Shah got two wickets and spinner Sajid Khan grabbed and wicket. When the first day ended after 88 overs owing to poor light, Australia score was 232 for 5. Summarized Scorecard: Australia Batting (First Innings): 232 for 5 in 88 overs Usman Khawaja 91 runs (219 balls, 4X9, 6X1), Steven Smith 59 runs (169 balls, 4X6), Travis Head 26 runs (70balls, 4X4), Cameron Green 20 not out (48 balls, 4X2) Pakistan Bowling (First Innings): Shaheen Shah Afridi (2 for 39), Naseem Shah (2 for 36), Sajid Khan (1 for 65) PAKISTAN (Playing XIs): Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah AUSTRALIA (Playing XIs): David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Nathan Lyon.  Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore                                                              Toss: Australia, elected to bat first Match Officials: Umpires: Ahsan Raza & Aleem Dar TV Umpire: Asif Yaqoob Reserve Umpire: Rashid Riaz Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)

BIPIN DANI Sri Lanka's former fast bowler Chaminda Vaas has been invited to teach the basics of (fast) bowling in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it is learnt.   "We have invited him to upgrade the skills of the school boys to the next level and he will conduct the sessions at two schools-Sharjah English School (SES) and Delhi Private School (DPS), Vaas' friend Presley Polonnowita, who has played the game with Vaas, said exclusively over the telephone from Dubai. Interestingly, Presley Polonnowita, who has played First Class cricket and represented the country in U-18 as an all-rounder is the founder and the CEO of the Desert Clubs Cricket Academy, which is the largest in the Gulf region.  "We are serving close to 600 kids in four centers and the majority of boys will benefit with the knowledge and experience of legendary cricketer Vaas". "Vaas will conduct three sessions (each of 2.5 hours) for three days on April 1,2 & 3". Vaas and Presley share good friendship and have spent a lot of time together at India's MRF.   "This will be a great opportunity for the kids in the UAE to learn from Vaas", he signed off.

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD:-Javagal Srinath of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees has rated the pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that was used for the second Test between India and Sri Lanka as “below average” and the venue has received one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. Bangalore pitch IND v SL Srinath said: “The pitch offered a lot of turn on the first day itself and though it improved with every session, in my view, it was not an even contest between bat and ball.” Srinath’s report has been forwarded to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Ali Ahmed LAHORE:-Pakistan and Australia cricket boards have mutually agreed to shift white-ball matches from Rawalpindi to Lahore on the dates as announced previously. The decision was made on Saturday morning following discussions between the two boards. This means the headquarters of Pakistan cricket will host the 29 March, 31 March and 2 April One-Day Internationals as well as the one-off Twenty20 International on 5 April at the back of the third Test, which commences on 21 March. The 50-over matches will start at 1500 local time, while the first ball in the 20-over match will be bowled at 2030 local time. Australia’s white-ball players, as originally planned, will arrive in Lahore on 24 March and after one-day room isolation, will integrate with other members of their side. Pakistan’s white-ball players are scheduled to assemble on 22 March and will resume training on 25 March. The ODIs are part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. Top seven-placed sides from this event plus ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 hosts India will qualify directly for the pinnacle 50-over competition, which will be staged next year in October/November. Australia are presently seventh and Pakistan ninth in the 13-team event, but a lot of 50-over cricket still needs to be played. Squads: Australia (ODI & T20I) - Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa Pakistan (ODI) – Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-Ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir Pakistan (T20I) – Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir    

BIBPIN DANI Dennis Lillee's leading tributes at the funeral on Thursday had mention of Bacchus for his departed wicket-keeper friend Rod Marsh. Interestingly, Bacchus Marsh is a town in Australia and there's a story exclusively described by Australia's award-winning journalist Peter Lalor on how the name Bacchus struck Marsh. "Once the players were making a trip to Ballarat with the team to play in a charity match. The train stopped in Bacchus Marsh and the great Rod (Marsh) needed to go to the toilet as they were having a few drinks on the trip. Rod had to leave the train and go into the station toilets". "He reportedly got locked in the toilet and the train went without him. Stuck in the Town where he knew no one he made his way down to the local pub “The court House” where he spent some time with the locals and told stories about cricket. A young man then offered him a lift to Ballarat in his new car. When arriving late to meet his team mates. He told his story and as he was stuck in Bacchus Marsh his teammates found it fitting to Nick Name home Bacchus Marsh", Lalor described the incident. 

Bipin Dani Former Pakistani captain Asif Iqbal has welcomed the decision of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to change the name of Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. The PCB is set to change the name of this stadium, nearly after 50 years purely for financial gain rather than political move. "Nothing is wrong with this idea (of changing the name)", believes former captain Asif Iqbal. Speaking exclusively over the telephone from England, where the 78-year-old India-born Pak cricketer lives, said, "I think it’s a very good one. Naming after Gaddafi had nothing to do with Pakistan cricket. That was purely political". "The amount of money PCB is going to raise from the sponsors will benefit the development of the game and the players". Changing the names of stadiums is not new.  He adds, "In England also quite a few Test as well as county grounds are named after sponsors and if I am not mistaken internationally too this is happening. In Europe and in the UK most of the football teams and stadiums are named after their sponsors".

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-National Selection Committee (NSC) headed by chairman Mohammad Wasim announced the national teams for one day and Twenty 20 matches series against Australia on Thursday, as uncapped Asif Afridi and Mohammad Haris have been included in both for the three ODIs and one-off T20I squads. According to media department of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), left-arm spinner Asif and wicketkeeper/batter Haris have earned the selectors’ attention as the result of his impressive performances in the domestic circuit. In the recently concluded seventh edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League, Asif took eight wickets in five matches for Multan Sultans, while 20-year-old Haris scored 166 runs in five matches at an impressive strike-rate of 186.5 for Peshawar Zalmi. In the ongoing Pakistan Cup, Haris has already scored 219 runs in seven matches at an average of just under 44 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Asif has picked up eight wickets in seven matches for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with an economy-rate of 4.39. Mohammad Nawaz, who had withdrawn from participation in the Test series for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy due to a foot injury, has been drafted in the side for both the ODI and T20I formats. However, his selection in the playing line-up will be subject to fitness test. While the selectors have picked up 20 players for the ODIs, which are being played as part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League; they have chosen 17 players for the only T20I, leaving out Abdullah Shafique, Imam-Ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel. Mohammad Wasim, Chair of the Selection Committee said: “I want to congratulate Asif and Haris on their inclusions in squads for the Australia series. This is a reward for their hard work and consistent performances in the domestic circuit. Their selections are also a message for all domestic players that their performances are being followed and whenever an opportunity arises, they will be rewarded with a national team call-up. “Australia are an equally outstanding team in the shorter formats of the game and, as such, we have decided to go with the best available and most experienced players. The four white-ball matches have significant context as the 50-over games count towards the 2023 World Cup qualification and the 20-over will be a repeat of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 semi-final. ODI squad: Babar Azam (captain-Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain-Northern), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Asif Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Asif Ali (Northern), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa),     Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imam-Ul-Haq (Balochistan), Khushdil Shah (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Junior (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Usman Qadir (Central Punjab) T20 squad: Babar Azam (captain-Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain-Northern), Asif Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Asif Ali (Northern), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Khushdil Shah (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Junior (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Usman Qadir (Central Punjab)

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI:-Although, Karachi Test between Pakistan and Australia ended in a draw, however, the cricket lovers will not forget the historical batting by skipper Babar Azam who stayed on the pitch for 603 minutes and saved the blushes of the country at National Cricket Stadium Karachi. Babar played an extraordinary 196 in more than 10 hours of batting by Pakistan captain Babar Azam saw another last-day victory push by Australia stalled and enabled the home team to walk away from the second Test at Karachi with a draw that will be celebrated as loudly as any victory. Facing a deficit of 505 and needing to bat almost two days having been bowled out in barely two sessions earlier in the match, Babar's inspiration coupled with crucial supporting roles from Mohammad Rizwan (104 not out) and Abdullah Shafique (96) saw Pakistan achieve history if not victory. Scorecard: Australia Batting (First Innings): 556 for 9 declared after 189 overs Usman Khawaja 160 (369 balls, 4X15, 6X1), Alex Carey 93 (159 balls, 4X7, 6X2), Steven Smith 72 runs (214 balls, 4X7), Nathan Lyon 38 (62 balls, 4X7), David Warner 36 (48 balls, 4X3, 6X2) Pakistan Bowling (First Innings): Faheem Ashraf (2 for 55), Sajid Khan (2 for 167), Babar Azam (1 for 7), Hasan Ali (1 for 71), Numan Ali (1 for 134) Pakistan Batting (First innings): 148 all out in 53 overs Babar Azam 35 (64 balls, 4X3), Nauman Ali 20 not out (35 balls, 4X4), Imam-ul-Haq 20 (64 balls, 4X3), Shaheen Shah Afridi 19 (25 balls, 4X3, 6X1) Australia Bowling (First Innings): Mitchell Starc (3 for 29), Mitchell Swepson (2 for 32), Nathan Lyon (1 for 13), Cameron Green (1 for 23) Australia Batting (Second Innings): 97 for 2 declared after 22.3 overs Marnus Labuschagne 44 (49 balls, 4X5, 6X1), Usman Kawaja 44 (70 balls, 4X4) Pakistan Bowling (Second Innings): Shaheen Shah Afridi (1 for 21), Hasan Ali (1 for 23) Pakistan Batting (Second Innings): 443 for 7 in 171.4 overs (target 506 runs) Babar Azam 196 (425 balls, 4X21, 6X1), Mohammad Rizwan 104 not out (177 balls, 4X11, 6x1) Abdullah Shafiq 96 (305 balls, 6X4, 6X1) Australia Bowling (Second Innings): Nathan Lyon (4 for 112), Pat Cummins (2 for 75), Cameron Green (1 for 32). Pakistan (Playing XIs): Abdullah Shafique, Imam ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam(c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Hassan Ali, Shaheen Afridi Australia (Playing XIs): David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(wk), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson Toss: Australia won the toss and decided to bat Results: Ended in a draw Match Officials: Ahsan Raza and Aleem Dar (Field Umpires) Rashid Riaz (TV Umpire) Asif Yaqoob (Fourth Umpire) Ranjan Madugalle (Match Referee)

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI:-An unbeaten 171-run for the third wicket between skipper Babar Azam (102 not out) and Abdullah Shafiq (71 not out) generate a ray of hope for Green Shirts to safe the 2nd Test, as Pakistan scored 192 for 2 runs on the end of Day-4 at National Cricket Stadium Karachi on Tuesday. Captain Babar Azam fought bravely against the Australian bowling attack, as when he came on the pitch Pakistan were in deep hot water 21 for 2. Babar showed his full confidence during his 197 balls innings and his teammate Abdullah Shafiq played a defensive and responsible innings, as he faced 226 balls for his 71 runs. Babar smashed 12 fours while Abdullah 4 fours and a big six.      Earlier, Australia declared their second innings at 97 for 2 to set 506 runs mammoth total for hosts to win the Test match and to become highest runs getter in 4th innings in the history of cricket.   Scorecard: Australia Batting (First Innings): 556 for 9 declared after 189 overs Usman Khawaja 160 (369 balls, 4X15, 6X1), Alex Carey 93 (159 balls, 4X7, 6X2), Steven Smith 72 runs (214 balls, 4X7), Nathan Lyon 38 (62 balls, 4X7), David Warner 36 (48 balls, 4X3, 6X2) Pakistan Bowling (First Innings): Faheem Ashraf (2 for 55), Sajid Khan (2 for 167), Babar Azam (1 for 7), Hasan Ali (1 for 71), Numan Ali (1 for 134) Pakistan Batting (First innings): 148 all out in 53 overs Babar Azam 35 (64 balls, 4X3), Nauman Ali 20 not out (35 balls, 4X4), Imam-ul-Haq 20 (64 balls, 4X3), Shaheen Shah Afridi 19 (25 balls, 4X3, 6X1) Australia Bowling (First Innings): Mitchell Starc (3 for 29), Mitchell Swepson (2 for 32), Nathan Lyon (1 for 13), Cameron Green (1 for 23) Australia Batting (Second Innings): 97 for 2 declared after 22.3 overs Marnus Labuschagne 44 (49 balls, 4X5, 6X1), Usman Kawaja 44 (70 balls, 4X4) Pakistan Bowling (Second Innings): Shaheen Shah Afridi (1 for 21), Hasan Ali (1 for 23) Pakistan Batting (Second Innings): 192 for 2 in 82 overs (target 506 runs) Babar Azam 102 not out (197 balls, 4X12), Abdullah Shafiq 71 not out (226 balls, 4X4, 6X1) Australia Bowling (Second Innings): Cameron Green (1 for 15), Nathan Lyon (1 for 50). Pakistan (Playing XIs): Abdullah Shafique, Imam ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam(c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Hassan Ali, Shaheen Afridi Australia (Playing XIs): David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(wk), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson Toss: Australia won the toss and decided to bat Match Officials: Ahsan Raza and Aleem Dar (Field Umpires) Rashid Riaz (TV Umpire) Asif Yaqoob (Fourth Umpire) Ranjan Madugalle (Match Referee)

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai:-The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced India’s star all-format batter Shreyas Iyer and White Ferns all-rounder Amelia Kerr were voted ICC Players of the Month for February 2022. Shreyas Iyer earned the ICC Player of the Month award the back of his brilliant white-ball exploits during the home series against West Indies and Sri Lanka respectively last month. Iyer pipped fellow nominees, UAE's Vriitya Aravind and Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee to claim the award. The right-hander struck a well-crafted, match-winning 80 in the third ODI against the West Indies in Ahmedabad and followed it up with a brisk 16-ball 25 in the closing game of the subsequent three-match T20I series. He went even better in the T20I series against Sri Lanka, aggregating 204 runs without being dismissed across three innings at a highly impressive strike-rate of 174.36. He registered scores of 57*(28), 74*(44) and 73*(45) across three games, while striking 20 fours and seven sixes collectively in a Player of the Series performance. “Throughout the month Shreyas showed tremendous consistency and control,” remarked former Sri Lanka cricketer and voting panel member Russell Arnold. “He totally dominated opposition bowlers and proved very hard to bowl at, scoring runs all-round the wicket and attacking the bowlers at the right moments. What really stood out for me was his composure as he battles for a regular place in the India lineup.” The 27-year-old has carried his form in the ongoing month too, having produced an outstanding 92 in the first innings of the ongoing second Test against Sri Lanka in Bangalore. Amelia Kerr, the 21-year-old New Zealand all-rounder, was named the Women’s POTM, following her supreme consistency with both bat and ball during the home white-ball series against India. After scoring 17 and returning 2/25 in New Zealand’s 18-run win in the only T20I, Kerr showcased exemplary skills during the ODI leg to further establish herself as a world-class cricketer. She finished the top-run scorer in the ODI series with 353 runs at a staggering average of 117.67, while bagging seven wickets at an economy of 5.78. She was named the Player of the Match in the second and fourth ODI respectively, her standout performance coming in the former, in which she returned 1/43 with the ball before anchoring a tense 271-run chase with a sublime unbeaten 119. Kerr was chosen ahead of fellow nominees, India captain Mithali Raj and all-rounder Deepti Sharma for the award. The Wellington-born is already being hailed as one of the best women cricketers of the modern game. “Amelia Kerr is growing into her role as a genuine all-rounder in the New Zealand team,” said Isobel Joyce, the former Ireland Women cricketer, and a voting panel member. “She’s been a world-class leg spinner for a number of years, but now her batting adds even more value to her spot in the team and makes her one of the best cricketers in the world.” Kerr is an integral part of the White Ferns setup at the ongoing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022 and has already racked up 111 runs and bagged five wickets from four outings thus far.