Cricket - Int News
Marina Iqbal steps down to concentrate on broadcasting
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Lahore (August 27, 2021):-Marina Iqbal has stepped down from her role as a national women’s selector to concentrate on her career as a broadcaster.
Marina was a member of a selection committee, which includes former Pakistan fast bowler Asmavia Iqbal and is headed by Urooj Mumtaz, a former Pakistan captain.
Marina, a former Pakistan batter, was inducted in the selection committee in March 2019 and selected national sides for ICC Women’s Championship series against South Africa and England, home fixtures against Bangladesh (all three 2019), ICC Women’s T20 World Cup (2020) and this year’s tours of Africa (South Africa and Zimbabwe) and West Indies.
Marina Iqbal: “It has been an honour to serve as a member of the national women’s selection committee which provided another great learning opportunity to me.
“I have made this decision to give more time to cricket commentary following my induction in the ICC future leaders programme. I felt that in my current role as a national selector, it was difficult to carry out the two roles simultaneously.
“I will continue to follow our women’s team, which possesses immense potential, from behind the mic, and wish well to all players for the upcoming assignments.”
PCB Chairman election on September 13
SPORTS REPORT
Lahore (August 27, 2021):-Election Commissioner of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mr Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat Saeed has called a special meeting of the Board of Governors on Monday, 13 September, at 1100 in Lahore to elect the 36th PCB Chairman.
The Election Commissioner made the decision in his first meeting at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday afternoon, in which he also directed that notices of the special meeting be issued to the BoG members. Such notices have been issued.
Earlier on Friday morning, PCB Patron, Prime Minister Mr Imran Khan, had nominated Mr Asad Ali Khan and Mr Ramiz Raja on the BoG for a three-year term while exercising his powers under clause 12(1) of the PCB Constitution.
The other five members on the BoG are Mr Aasim Wajid Jawad, Ms Alia Zafar, Mr Arif Saeed and Mr Javed Kurieshi (all independent members) and Mr Wasim Khan (PCB Chief Executive).
Security guard's daughter to play for India
By BIPIN DANI
Vijay Singh Yadav, the security guard at Dwarikesh SugarIndustries was officiating his duty in Bareilly when heard the news about her daughter Meghna Singh's inclusion in the Indian women's team.
The 27-year-old right-arm medium pacer and the lower order batsman has been selected in the India women's team for the tour of Australia. She has been chosen for all three formats of the game.
"My family is in Kotwali Dehat (District Bijnor) about 200 km away from my posting in Bareilly. Only for some official work I have come home and will be celebrating the inclusion of my daughter in the Indian team with my family members today before I return for my work in the evening", the father added.
Meghna's grand-father is a retired Police sub inspector.
Meghna is the eldest among five siblings. Her younger sisters-Garima, Pratiksha and Riddhi are graduates and postgraduates. The youngest brother Prabal Pratap is studying now. The mother, Reena Singh, is working as ASHA in the health department.
"Meghna could not complete her graduation because she had to remain very busy playing the game and we have no regrets for that", the father added.
"Meghna's family has struggled a lot in life. Meghna's hard work has finally been rewarded. She used to come for training at our academy", the coach Lakshraj Tyagi said.
Former India player Rita Dey has been Meghna's mentor. "She is a very simple and casual girl. She made her passport only last year when she was selected to play in the women's IPL in Dubai", Rita Dey says.
Misbah-ul-Haq tests positive
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Kingston, Jamaica (August 25, 2021):-Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has tested positive and, as such, will not depart for Lahore with his side later today (Wednesday). Misbah, who is asymptomatic, will now undergo a 10-day quarantine, following which he will depart for Pakistan.
Misbah was the only Pakistan squad member who failed two pre-departure PCR tests. All other members will leave Jamaica as per schedule later today (Wednesday).
The PCB is constantly in touch with Cricket West Indies who have confirmed that Misbah will be shifted to another hotel for the 10-day quarantine with a medical specialist assigned to look after his health and wellbeing.
One more Sri Lankan player migrates to the USA
By BIPIN DANI
Sri Lanka's one more cricketer has migrated to the USA on Tuesday. The 28-year-old wicket-keeper batsman Lahiru Milintha, who has played 66 First Class matches, reached North Carolina with his wife on Tuesday early morning.
Speaking exclusively over the telephone from the USA, he says, "I will be playing for the Morrisville Cardinals team in the Minor Cricket League (MiCL) this year". This is the first year of the League in the USA and all matches are played on weekends.
"Half of the tournament is over", he said. Interestingly, Lahiru Milintha is the sixth SriLanka-born cricketer in this tournament. The other five Sri Lankans are : Sehan Jayasuriya, Amila Aponso, Roy Silva, Gayan Fernando and Ravindu Gunasekera.
Ravindu Gunasekara has played for the Canada national team also. He will be in Lahiru's team in the MiCL. Morrisville Cardinals' next match is on Saturday, 28th August against Orlando Galaxy.
Jayasuriya, Aponoso and now Lahiru are keen to settle in the USA and ambitious to play for the USA national team in future. They, however, have to reside in the USA (ICC's mandatory requirement) for three years to be eligible to play for the USA.
Turkey withdraw from Europe Women Qualifer
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Islamabad (August 25, 2021):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) today have confirmed that Turkey have withdrawn from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier supported by Dream 11 as the necessary approval and travel documentation required due to COVID-19 restrictions for the team was not able to be secured from the Turkish Sports Ministry.
The event due to start tomorrow in La Manga, Spain will now see the Qualifier be played as five-team tournament with a revised fixture list below. Action from the five-day tournament will be available to fans from across the world through the live stream, details here.
ICC Regional Development Manager – Europe, Andy Wright said: “It is with great regret that Turkey will not be taking part in the Europe Qualifier at La Manga. We have been in communication with the Federation over the past month to provide any assistance to secure their arrival into Spain in time for the event and would like to thank the Federation for their efforts in trying to secure the documentation.
“We have worked closely with the remaining participating teams and the event will now be played as a five-team tournament. We are looking forward to seeing play getting underway tomorrow in what is still set to be a very competitive event.”
The revised fixtures are:
26 August 2021 - Netherlands v Scotland (10:30); Ireland v Germany (10:30); France v Netherlands (15:30)
27 August 2021 - Germany v France (10:30); Ireland v Scotland (10:30); Netherlands v Germany (15:30)
28 August 2021 - Rest Day
29 August 2021 - France v Ireland (10:30); Scotland v Germany (10:30)
30 August 2021 - Netherlands v Ireland (10:30); Scotland v France (10:30)
Fawad and Shaheen attain career bests in Test Rankings
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
ISLAMABAD (August 25, 2021):-Left-handed batter Fawad Alam and left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi have achieved career-best positions in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings after helping Pakistan win the second Test against the West Indies in Kingston to draw their two-match ICC World Test Championship series 1-1.
Alam’s unbeaten 124 in the first innings has helped him shoot up 34 places to 21st position. Shaheen has gained 10 slots to reach eighth position after a 10-wicket match haul that helped seal a 109-run victory and won him the Player of the Match award.
Fawad, who has struck four centuries since his return to Test cricket in August last year, had a previous best of 47th position attained in May this year while Afridi’s 18th position before this Test was his highest. Shaheen, who also finished as the Player of the Series with 18 wickets, had started the series in 22nd position.
Captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the two Pakistan players ahead of Fawad in the batters’ list, have also gained. Babar’s scores of 75 and 33 have helped him advance one slot to seventh position, two below his career-best fifth position in August last year, while Rizwan is back in the top 20 with scores of 31 and 10 not out.
Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali is another one to gain in the latest weekly update to the men’s rankings that is carried out across formats on Wednesdays. His three-wicket haul in the second innings has helped him progress from 48th to 44thposition.
For the West Indies, all-rounder Jason Holder has advanced six places to 37th among batters with scores of 26 and 47. Fast bowler Jayden Seales, the most successful after Shaheen with 11 wickets in the series, has moved up four slots to 54th after his three first innings wickets.
Mark Wood to miss third Test
SPORTS DESK
Islamabad (August 23, 2021):-England seamer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the LV= Insurance third Test against India with a jarred right shoulder.
Wood sustained the injury on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord’s and will not be fit to play at Emerald Headingley starting on Wednesday.
He will remain with the squad in Leeds and will continue his rehab with the England medical team.
The 31-year-old will be assessed at the end of this Test match.
Pre-season training camp for white-ball players to commence on Sunday
SPORTS REPORT
Lahore (August 21, 2021):-A pre-season training camp for men’s white-ball players will commence on Sunday at the National High Performance Centre with practice matches to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The camp will be supervised by the NHPC coaching and support staff, led by Head of International Player Development Saqlain Mushtaq.
Twenty-six players will take part in the camp for which the players will start assembling later today. Throughout the camp, the prevalent Covid-19 SOPs will be observed.
During the camp, the players will work on their fitness and cricketing skills with a special emphasis on their preparation for the hectic white-ball international cricket season which begins next month.
White-ball players returning from the West Indies will be asked to join the camp after a few days of rest.
White-ball players to participate in the camp:
Arshad Iqbal (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Danish Aziz (Sindh), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hussain Talat (Southern Punjab), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imad Wasim (Northern), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Khushdil Shah (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper)(Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Shadab Khan (Northern), Sharjeel Khan (Sindh), Sohaib Maqsood (Southern Punjab).
Additional players to help during net sessions and practice matches:
Abrar Ahmed (Sindh), Ahmed Bashir (Central Punjab), Imran Randhawa (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Ilyas (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Imran (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Muhammad Akhlaq (Central Punjab), Raza Ali Dar (Central Punjab), Rohail Nazir (Northern), Zeeshan Ashraf (Southern Punjab).
Camp schedule – first week:
22 August – Scenario-based 50 over practice match
23 August – Fitness and Strength and Conditioning session in the afternoon
24 August – Scenario-based 50 over practice match
25 August – Skill practice session
26 August – Fitness, Strength and Conditioning session in the afternoon
27 August – Scenario-based 50 over practice match
Virat and Anushka visit vegan restaurant in London
By BIPIN DANI
Two days after India's historic win against England at Lord's, our captain Virat Kohli and his gorgeous wife Anushka Sharma paid a visit to a vegetarian restaurant Tendril Kitchen- London.
"We were very happy to host them", the owner, who is also the main chef of the restaurant Rishim Sachdeva, speaking exclusively over the telephone from London, said.
"We are a very new restaurant and have only been operational at this site in central London for 4 months and obviously they were the first celebrities to have tasted at our place".
How did they come to know about this restaurant ?
"Well, they googled and checked it online. Anushka mentioned that they loved the pictures and the reviews. They immediately booked the table and we were happy to host them".
"Ours is a vegetarian and mostly the vegan foods are served. Virat and Anushka are vegetarians and liked the food here".
Previously, this Delhi-born Indian owner was working in Mumbai (Olive restaurant), where Shah Rukh Khan used to come often and invited the chef to teach him the cooking items.
"I didn't discuss cricket with Kohli but our discussions mainly were on food, our sourcing of ingredients etc. We also talked about clean and healthy food habits and how vegetarian / vegan food is good for the planet and our own health".
"We also do a tasting menu, where you get a bit of everything from the menu. They loved everything and finished each and every plate".
Kohli did recommend this restaurant to his team mates as well and the next day Indian spinner R. Ashwin was the visitor of this restaurant.
"Obviously we treated them as our special guests", the owner signed off.
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