Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE (January 4, 2022):-In what was another boost for the HBL Pakistan Super League, Trans Group International today submitted the highest bid, pursuant to a public tender process, for the brand partnership rights for a four-year-term, beginning in 2022 and stretching till 2025. The brand partnership rights were divided into two categories: seven category rights and one umpire sponsorship rights. In a highly competitive bidding process, Trans Group International submitted their bids for category rights and umpire sponsorship rights at mammoth increase of 219 and 168 per cent from the last deals. PCB Chief Operating Officer and Bid Committee Chair Salman Naseer: “Trans Group International has been a supporter of HBL Pakistan Super League since its inception and I am thankful for the continuation of their immense support to the brand. “Such substantial increase in the brand partnership rights highlights how big the brand of the HBL Pakistan Super League has become and I am sure the Pakistan cricket fans will enjoy the upcoming edition.” Trans Group International Director Rao Omar Hashim Khan: “The HBL Pakistan Super League is arguably the biggest brand in Pakistan and it brings together all Pakistanis. We are proud to be once again partnering with the Pakistan Cricket Board for one of the most successful and exciting cricket leagues in the world. Our unwavering support for Pakistan Cricket knows no bounds.” Earlier, a consortium of ARY and PTV submitted the bid for TV broadcast rights in Pakistan at an increase of 50 per cent, while Daraz submitted the bid for live-streaming in the country at a rise of 175 per cent from the last deal. The seventh edition of HBL Pakistan Super League will kick off at Karachi’s National Stadium on 27 January when defending champions Multan Sultans play 2020 edition’s winners Karachi Kings. The event will conclude in Lahore on 27 February with the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan’s home of cricket.

Johannesburg, South Africa (Sports Bulletin Report):- South African pacers Marco Jansen (4 for 31), Kagiso Rabada (3 for 64) and Duanne Olivier (3 for 64) restricted India on a meager total of 202 runs in their first innings of the 2nd Test match of the series at Wanderers Cricket Stadium, Johannesburg South Africa on Monday. Hosts were 35 fo1 at the close of play Day-1. Elgar and Petersen were not out at 11 and 14 with runs respectively. Earlier, India won the toss and decided to bat first. Top Indian batter Virat Kohli ruled out on the morning and Rahul took the captaincy. Duanne Olivier and Marco Jansen dented the visitors batting line at the earlier stage of the match and with the help of Rabada bundled on a too little total of 202. Rahul's masterful 50 held the top half together, even as wickets fell at the other end, and then R Ashwin's 46 led the way as the lower order pushed the score beyond 200. But none of the partnerships India strung together were allowed to take root, chiefly due to Jansen. Summarized Scorecard: India Batting (First Innings): 202 all out in 63.1 overs KL Rahul 50 (133 balls 4X9), Ravichandran Ashwin 46 (50 ball 4X6), Mohammed Shami 9 (12 balls 4X1) South Africa Bowling: Marco Jansen (4 for 31), Kagiso Rabada (3 for 64), Duanne Olivier (3 for 64) South Africa Batting (First Innings): Dean Elgar 11 not out (57 balls 4X1), Petersen 14 (39 balls 4X2), Aiden Markram 7 (12 4X1). Indian Bowling (First Innings): Mohammad Shami (1 for 15).

Ayaz Raza Afridi PESHAWAR (January 3, 2022):-Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of Romania Cricket Board (RCB) Abdul Shakoor Khan visited Jamrud Sports Complex on Monday. The top officials including Petron-in-Chief Khyaber Cricket Association Haji Taimoor Khan, Secretary General KP Athletics Association (KAA) Saif-ul-Islam Afridi, former member Governing Board of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Kabir Ali Khan, former General Secretary Abdullah, Finance Secretary Wahid Gul, Media Coordinator Ayaz Raza and the players received the Abdul Shakoor Khan. It is pertinent to mention here that Romanian cricket team is ranked 38th in the ICC T20 rankings and 10th in Europe at present. Abdul Shakoor said on this occasion that he wants Pakistani players to be part of the Romanian cricket team. He also invited Haji Taimoo to visit Romania. He said that coaches would also be called from Pakistan to teach cricket in Romania to budding cricketers. He praised Haji Timur for his outstanding services in cricket.

Sports Bulletin Report Mount Maunganui, New Zealand (January 3, 2022):-Two well composed innings, Liton Das 86 (177 balls) and Mominul Haque 88 (244 balls), helped Bangladesh to earn a vital lead of 73 runs against New Zealand in the first innings, as they have 4 wickets in their pocket at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Monday. Bangladesh were 401 for 6 at the end of Day-3. Bangladesh batted with care but bit slow to get lead against hosts the third day. Skipper Mominul Haque was the top scorer with 88, having struck 12 fours in his 244-ball knock as stayed at the crease for over six hours. Mominul added an important 158 runs for the fifth wicket with Liton Das, who made 86 off 177 deliveries. Mahmudul Hasan Joy, playing just his second Test, made a diligent 78, adding 104 for the second wicket with Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made 64. Also, Monday was the first time each of Bangladesh top six batters faced more than 50 balls in an away Test innings. Neil Wagner and Trent Boult took three wickets each but Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and Rachin Ravindra went wicket-less in their 88 overs combined. Boult removed both Mominul and Litton in the space of three overs. He finally broke the fifth-wicket stand when he trapped Mominul lbw for 88. A few overs later, Litton followed him to the dressing room after he chased a wide one from Boult. Summarized Scorecard: Toss: Bangladesh, elected to field first Day-3 (New Zealand vs Bangladesh): New Zealand Batting (First Innings): 328 all out in 108.1 overs Devon Conway 122 (227 balls, 4X16, 6X1), Ross Taylor 31 (64 balls 4X5), Henry Nicholls 75 (127 balls 4X12). Bangladesh Bowling (First Innings): Shoriful Islam (3 for 69), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3 for 86), Mominul Haque (2 for 6). BANGLADESH Batting (First Innings): 401 for 6 in 156 overs Liton Das 86 (177 balls 4X10), Mominul Haque 88 (244 balls 4X12), Mahmudul Hasan Joy 78 (228 balls, 4X7). New Zealand Bowling (First Innings): Trent Boult (3 for 61), Neil Wagner (3 for 98)         3  

Raja Abrar LAHORE (January 3, 2022):-Former captain Mohammad Hafeez has announced his retirement from international cricket 18 years after making his debut in Sharjah against Zimbabwe on 3 April 2003. Hafeez represented Pakistan in 392 international matches, scoring 12,780 runs and taking 253 wickets, besides also captaining the side in 32 international matches. He was a member of the Pakistan side that won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England and Wales. Overall, Hafeez played in three 50-over World Cups (2007, 2011 and 2019), six 20-over World Cups (2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2021) and three ICC Champions Trophy (2006, 2013 and 2017). In the ICC Player Rankings, Hafeez achieved highest Test rankings of 22nd in batting, 29th in bowling and fifth in all-rounders. In the ODI rankings, Hafeez’s highest-ranking was 13th in March 2014, while he topped the bowling and all-rounder charts in August 2012 and January 2013, respectively. Hafeez’s rankings in T20I were equally impressive, peaking to ninth in batting in February 2007, third in bowling in August 2013 and number-one in all-rounders in March 2014. Mohammad Hafeez: “Today I say good-bye to international cricket with pride and satisfaction. In fact, I have earned and accomplished more than I had initially envisaged and for that, I am thankful to all my fellow cricketers, captains, support staff and the Pakistan Cricket Board who helped me out during my career. “And, of course, my family who made big sacrifices to ensure I achieved my aspirations of representing Pakistan at a global stage. “I am extremely fortunate, lucky and proud to have been considered worthy of donning the national kit with Pakistan emblem for 18 years. My country and my team have always been at my forefront and therefore, every time I stepped on to the field, I tried to raise their profile and image by playing hard and tough but within the rich traditions of spirit of cricket. “When you have a professional career as long as mine, you’re bound to have your share of highs and lows, and I was no different. Results apart, I can say with conviction that I had more highs as I had the privilege of playing with and against some of the finest exponents of the bat and the ball of my era. “While cricket has been a great learning school for me, this great sport has provided me opportunities to visit various countries, explore their cultures and make friends. These are lifelong memories, which I will cherish every day. I want to thank my fans and supporters for believing in my abilities and backing me throughout my career.” PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja: “Hafeez has been a wholehearted cricketer who worked tirelessly at his game to have a long and fruitful career. “His game evolved with time, adjusting to different formats quite intelligently. Later in his career, he became a T20 specialist, where he was never out of touch with modern demands of this testing format. His batsmanship took a sprightly turn, nailing sixes almost at will. “He has worn the green blazer with pride for which we at the PCB are thankful. I wish him best of luck for his future life and thank him again for his magnificent contribution to Pakistan cricket.”

Bipin Dani Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will join the ICC Under-19 World Cup squad in West Indies, it is leant. The 44-year-old Jayawardene, who has recently been appointed consultant coach for Sri Lanka seniors, Under-19s and 'A' team for one year, will leave for Caribbean islands later this month. Jayawardene, has also been assigned to select the coaching staff for the various positions, and is likely to have floated the process.  The same squad with no changes, which recently lost the U-19 Asia Cup final against India in the UAE, left directly from Dubai to Guyana (via London & Barbados) by Emirates Airways, British Airways and local flight) on Sunday morning. The squad has an over 18-hours flight journey. There were no outdoor activities scheduled for the players on Saturday. "There has been no change in the team or the support staff", one of the SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) board sources said exclusively over the telephone. "Ranjith Madhursinghe, who traveled with the team for the Asia Cup will also continue to be the tour selector for the World Cup", the source further added. The team will spend five days in quarantine before beginning the training ahead of its first match against Scotland on January 14. The final of the ICC U-9 World Cup will be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua on February 5. 

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Mount Maunganui, New Zealand (January 2, 2022):-Tourist team Bangladesh produced sparking performance on the second day of the Mount Maunganui Test both with the ball and bat, as they restricted Black Caps at 328 runs with magic bowling and later they were 175 for 2 in 67 overs at the close of the Day-2 game. Shanto was the busier of the two batters, hitting 64 off 109 balls. He struck seven fours and a slog-swept six that brought up his half-century. He drove the ball well on both sides of the wicket, and his best shot was possibly the cut he played against Wagner, when he moved well outside his leg stump and threaded the ball through gully and point. He fell in the last hour when Wagner got rid of him with a conventional outswinger coming from over the wicket. Shanto's uppish drive was well caught at gully by Will Young. Earlier in the day, New Zealand lost their last five wickets for 70 runs, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz picking up three of those. He had Kyle Jamieson caught at long-on, Southee at short midwicket, and Wagner caught behind in a burst that kept the home side on the back foot. Summarized Scorecard: Day-2 (New Zealand vs Bangladesh): New Zealand Batting (First Innings): 328 all out in 108.1 overs Devon Conway 122 (227 balls, 4X16, 6X1), Ross Taylor 31 (64 balls 4X5), Henry Nicholls 75 (127 balls 4X12). Bangladesh Bowling (First Innings): 175 for 2 in 67 overs Shoriful Islam (3 for 69), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3 for 86), Mominul Haque (2 for 6). BANGLADESH Batting (First Innings): Shadman Islam 22 (55 balls 4X1), Mahmudul Hasan Joy 70 not out (211 balls 4X7 ), Najmul Hossain Shanto 64 (109 balls 4x7 6X1) Yet to bat: Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das †, Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam New Zealand Bowling: (2 for 27) Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui Toss: Bangladesh, elected to field first Bangladesh tour of New Zealand ICC World Test Championship

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-India have been fined 20 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the first Test held in Centurion. Andrew Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India was one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. In addition, as per Article 16.11 of the ICC Men’s World Test Championship Playing Conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short. Consequently, India will lose one point from their points tally for this offence. Captain, Virat Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. Umpires Marais Erasmus, Adrian Holdstock, Allahudien Paleker and Bongani Jele leveled the charge.

Sports Bulletin Report Mount Maunganui (January 1, 2022):-Hosts New Zealand posted 258 for 5 runs on the board in the first Test match against Bangladesh that started at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday. Bangladesh decided to field first after winning the toss. Devon Conway returned from injury and promptly struck his second century in Test cricket, on his home debut in the format. New Zealand, as a result, finished ahead of Bangladesh on the first day in Mount Maunganui, going to stumps 258 for 5 on New Year's Day. Conway scored 122 off 227 balls with 16 fours and a six over midwicket, which brought up his fifty after lunch. He steadied New Zealand after an early wicket with a 138-run second wicket stand with Will Young, who made 52. Ebadot also got a reward at the end of the day when he had Tom Blundell bowled off the inside edge, giving Bangladesh something to be pleased about as they trudged off the ground. Much of the day had belonged to the hosts, though. Shoriful removed New Zealand's stand-in captain Tom Latham in the fourth over of the morning - the left-arm quick got one to nip back into Latham, who inside edged the ball on to his pad and it lobbed behind where wicketkeeper Liton Das dived in front of the first slip to complete the catch. It was a big wicket given Latham was averaging 90-plus against Bangladesh before this game.

Special Report LAHORE (December 31, 2021):-A year that commenced with a demoralising innings defeat at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch finished on a high with a 3-0 T20I series win over two-time former T20 world champions West Indies in Karachi. According to media department of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Between the two series in a 12-month period, Pakistan won three Test series and drew one, and also reached the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup where the penultimate over swung the match in Australia’s favour who went on to win their maiden T20 world title in Dubai. Overall, in the 2021 calendar year, Pakistan won seven of their nine Tests, lost four of the six ODIs and ended up on the winning side in 20 off the 29 T20Is. In the preceding calendar year, which was marred by Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan had won one out of five Tests, two out of three ODIs and seven off the 11 T20Is. The matches that left everlasting memories in the minds of the fans came in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup where Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets as well as New Zealand and Afghanistan by five wickets apiece. These wins were followed by 45 runs and 72 runs victories over Namibia and Scotland, respectively. The performances rejuvenated the fans as the entire nation got behind the boys in greens, by cheering and backing them throughout the competition. In the match against India on 24 October at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India, opting to bat first, were decimated by Shaheen Shah Afridi who finished with figures of three for 31 as the traditional rivals finished at 151 for seven. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were in their brilliant best, scoring 68 not out and 79 not out as Pakistan achieved victory with more than two overs to spare. This victory followed a five-wicket win over New Zealand that saw Haris Rauf grabbing four for 22 and Mohammad Rizwan (33), Shoaib Malik (26 not out) and Asif Ali (27) making valuable contributions. The match against Afghanistan, Pakistan’s third in six days, will always be remembered for Asif Ali’s four sixes in the penultimate over that earned the 2009 champions a five-wicket win. Babar Azam was the other notable scorer in a 148-run chase, scoring 51. The interim set-up of Saqlain Mushtaq (head coach), Matthew Hayden (batting consultant) and Vernon Philander (bowling coach) contributed in the complete turnaround of the Pakistan side, which looked for relax, composed, determined and resilient. Of course, Babar Azam also had a lion’s share in the success of the side has he showed great leadership and lead by example and with performance. Victory over Bangladesh in the second Test at Sher-e-Bangla was by no means less entertaining, thrilling and exciting as Pakistan romped to victory by an innings and eight runs in the final session of the match in which only 63.2 overs were bowled in the first two days and third day’s play was washed out. Pakistan’s 95 runs victory over South Africa in Rawalpindi was equally sweet. Not only Hasan Ali took a 10-for in his comeback series after a career-threatening back injury, Mohammad Rizwan stroked an unbeaten 115 in the second innings to lift Pakistan from a precarious 143 for seven in the second innings to 298 all-out that set the visitors a 370-run target. While there were heart-warming wins, there were, at least, a couple of heartbreaks as well. Pakistan narrowly lost the Jamaica Test against the West Indies by one-wicket in August that ultimately denied Pakistan a second successive series victory in the Caribbean. Then, on 11 November in Dubai, the ghost of 2010 T20 World Cup came back to haunt Pakistan when Matthew Wade struck Shaheen Shah Afridi for three successive sixes in the penultimate over to earn a five-wicket victory for Australia, who had needed 37 off the last three overs and 22 from the final 12 deliveries. From a player perspective in the ODIs, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman deserved to end up on the winning sides for their breathtaking innings, but that wasn’t to be. Babar’s 139-ball 158 against England in Birmingham went in vain as England triumphed by three wickets to win the series 3-0, while Fakhar Zaman’s 193 from 155 balls with 18 fours and 10 sixes failed to help Pakistan cross the line at Centurion where South Africa won by 17 runs. Pakistan won the series 2-1. In Test cricket, Abid Ali finished as the pick of Pakistan batters with 695 runs in nine Tests. He was followed by Fawad Alam (571), Azhar Ali (549), Mohammad Rizwan (455) and Babar Azam (416 runs). Amongst the bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi took 47 wickets, followed by Hasan Ali (41), Nauman Ali (19), Sajid Khan (18) and Faheem Ashraf (10). In the six ODIs, No.1 ranked Babar Azam topped the batting chart with 405 runs, followed by Fakhar Zaman (365), Imam-ul-Haq (189) and Mohammad Rizwan (134). Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler with 13 wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged eight wickets. No.3-ranked Mohammad Rizwan stole the T20I batting honours by amassing 1,326 runs in 29 matches with one century and 12 half-centuries, including a 52-ball 67 against Australia in Dubai after spending 30 hours in a hospital due to a chest infection prior to the match. Babar Azam, who finished as the second-ranked batter, contributed 939 runs whereas Fakhar Zaman contributed 415 runs. Haris Rauf established his credentials as a successful white-ball bowler by finishing at the top with Hasan Ali on 25 wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi was once again amongst wickets with 23. Shadab Khan took 20 wickets. These numbers could have been more impressive had the three ODIs and five T20Is against New Zealand, two T20Is against England in September/October and three ODIs against the West Indies gone ahead as planned. However, New Zealand abandoned the tour on the day of the series opener citing security concerns and England followed suit. Both the boards later agreed to tour Pakistan in 2022 along with the West Indies, who had to return home following a Covid-19 outbreak in their ranks that left them depleted and under-strength for the ICC World Cup Super League ODIs. With Australia already scheduled to tour Pakistan for three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I in March/April 2022, Pakistan braces for one of the busiest and heaviest home international cricket calendar year with as many as eight Tests, 11 ODIs and 13 T20Is lined-up. Separately, Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka for Tests, ODI and the ACC T20 Cup, before they participate in October’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Contrary to the men’s side, the national women’s side had a forgettable calendar year, winning only three of their 13 ODIs and one of their six T20Is. However, more importantly, they qualified for the ICC Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2022 as well as the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. At the pathways level, Pakistan Shaheens welcomed 2021 with two consecutive victories against New Zealand A then toured Sri Lanka in October/November. In both the four-day matches, Sri Lanka A held their nerves to hold them to draws, while in the only completed 50-over match, Shaheens won by six wickets. Pakistan U19 then played in the ACC U19 Asia Cup in which they defeated Afghanistan, India and UAE in group matches but lost to Sri Lanka in the semi-final. In a year when a number of international sport events continued to be affected by Covid-19, HBL Pakistan Super League 6 was no different. After 14 matches in February/March in Karachi, the remaining 20 matches had to be played in Abu Dhabi in June where Multan Sultans clinched their maiden title when they defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs. Apart from the HBL PSL 6, the PCB organised nine other domestic tournaments in which 267 matches were played across Pakistan. Away from on-field action, Pakistan achieved two major successes when they were awarded hosting rights of the ACC 50-over Asia Cup in 2023 as well as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan last staged an ACC event in 2008, while the last ICC event was in 1996, which they co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka. The awarding of the two events was a testament of Pakistan security agencies successes as the world eventually recognised security is no more an issue. Legendary Abdul Qadir and Fazal Mahmood were inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame where they will join Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Zaheer Abbas, who were the initial inductees by virtue of being part of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. There was also a change of guard in the second half of 2021 when Ehsan Mani completed his three-year term and was succeeded by former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja. After Chief Executive Wasim Khan also decided to step down from his role in September, the PCB, through a robust recruitment process, appointed experienced finance and sports administrator Faisal Hasnain as the new Chief Executive.