Sports Bulletin

Bipin Dani There have been no new cases of Covid-19 in Sri Lanka's women squad but two members of the squad are still found having Covid-19 positive results, it is reliably learnt. According to highly placed sources in the SLC, one player (Sugandika Kumari) and one support staff member (Indrani Ariyarayni) were again found positive in the last PCR tests conducted on Thursday.   It has been learnt now that more series of tests including the antigen tests for both will be conducted. "If the Covid affected persons have negative antigen tests, they can still fly to the country as per the new Civil aviation guidelines because there are less chances of spreading the virus", one of the SLC sources said. All players and support staff are still stranded in Harare after the Covid outbreak in the team, which resulted in the cancellation of the ICC World Cup qualifying round last week. "Efforts are being made at the highest level for their early return". There was a plan to send them in two different batches but now they all will be sent in a  Chartered flight of Sri Lankan airlines. "We are aware that they all have been nervous now and anxious to return home". "Just got the confirmation that team has the delta variant”. Delta variant was found initially in India, then it spreaded worldwide. It differed from other variants because of its high infectivity. And the mortality and morbidity rates were higher as well". "The players are being monitored by our efficient team doctor Matheesa de Silva", the source further added.

Harare (SB Report):-Player of the match Anam Amin’s brilliant three for nine in seven overs scripted Pakistan Women’s mammoth 114-run win over Zimbabwe Women in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier at Sunrise Club. In what was Pakistan’s last outing in the tournament following the ICC’s decision to end the tournament due to Covid-19-related uncertainties and after the global governing body’s decision to grant qualification to Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh on the basis of their rankings as per the tournament’s playing conditions, Zimbabwe were rolled out for 81 in 26.2 overs. Sadiq Iqbal, another left-arm orthodox, also took three wickets as she returned three for four from her four overs. Pacer Fatima Sana and off-spinner Omaima Sohail took two wickets each. Only two Zimbabwe batters could enter double figures. Earlier, Pakistan, after being asked to bat, made 195 for the loss of six wickets with Aliya Riaz top-scoring with 48 not out. The right-hander struck three sixes and one four as she brought up her runs at a strike rate of above 82. Pakistan captain Javeria Khan also made 48 – hitting six fours off 87 balls. Her opening stand with Muneeba Ali (19 off 39) was worth 57. Scores in brief: Pakistan Women 195-6, 50 overs (Aliya Riaz 48 not out, Javeria Khan 48, Iram Javed 24) Zimbabwe Women 81 all out, 26.2 overs (Anam Amin 3-7, Sadia Iqbal 3-4, Omaima Sohail 2-7, Fatima Sana 2-20) Player of the match – Anam Amin (Pakistan Women)

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-The International Cricket Council today announced that the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 in Harare has been called off due to the introduction of travel restrictions from a number of African countries, including the host country Zimbabwe, following the breakout of a new COVID-19 variant in southern Africa. The decision was taken during the preliminary league phase of the nine-team tournament, that was to decide the final three qualifiers for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, to be played in New Zealand, as well as two additional teams for the next cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship. The qualifiers will now be decided according to the team rankings as detailed in the tournament playing conditions. Therefore, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies will now progress to the event in New Zealand. Play in two of the three matches scheduled for Saturday – Zimbabwe v Pakistan and USA v Thailand – started as scheduled but the third fixture of the day, between the West Indies and Sri Lanka, could not be staged as a member of the Sri Lanka team support staff tested positive for COVID-19. ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said: “We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel the remainder of this event but with travel restrictions from a number of African countries being imposed at such short notice there was a serious risk that teams would be unable to return home. “We have explored a number of options to allow us to complete the event but it isn’t feasible and we will fly the teams out of Zimbabwe as soon as possible. Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies will now qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 by virtue of their rankings, whilst Sri Lanka and Ireland will also join them in the next cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship.” The teams who have qualified for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to be held in New Zealand from 4 March to 3 April are Australia, England, India, South Africa, New Zealand (hosts), Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh. The number of teams in the third cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship (from 2022-2025) has been increased from eight to ten, and these teams will be Australia, England, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ireland.

Harare (SB Report):-Zimbabwe's last wicket pairing got the hosts across the line against USA while Ireland and Thailand got two points on board at the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers in Harare. THAILAND BEAT BANGLADESH 8 WICKETS Thailand's decision to bowl first worked out very well for them, dismissing Sharmin Akhter and captain Nigar Sultana inside the Powerplay. In a spot of bother early at 14/2, Murshida Khatun and Fargana Hoque strung together a solid 84-run stand. Both of them fell within a span of 3.1 overs with Hoque getting to her fifty but Khatun fell four runs short. Ritu Moni's stay at the crease did not last long. With three quick wickets falling, Rumana Ahmed and Lata Mondal steadied the ship with a partnership worth 52 runs for the sixth wicket. Nattaya Boochatham picked up three wickets in the final over of the innings to complete her five-for as Bangladesh finished on 176/8. Openers Sornnarin Tippoch and Natthakan Chantham began solidly for Thailand and knocked off more than half the runs with their first-wicket stand. Both the batters were extremely cautious in their approach, taking 28 overs to score 97 runs of the partnership. Bangladesh dismissed both the openers in a span of six overs after which Nannapat Koncharoenkai and captain Naruemol Chaiwai took control of the innings. With rain playing spoilsport, players had to retreat into the dressing room. The match was eventually called off, with Thailand winning by DLS method. IRELAND BEAT NETHERLANDS BY 29 RUNS Openers Leah Paul and Gaby Lewis have recently made a habit out of providing Ireland with great starts and they didn't disappoint after being asked to bat first. The duo put on a 61-run stand, before Caroline de Lange put the brakes on scoring by scalping both the openers. Ireland lost wickets in a heap and found themselves at 85/5, with Eva Lynch dismissing Shauna Kavanagh and Orla Prendergast off consecutive deliveries.  Skipper Laura Delany and Eimear Richardson had to pull off the rescue act and drag Ireland out of trouble, adding 85 runs for the sixth wicket. Heather Siegers ran through the rest of the batting order with a four-wicket haul, including the wicket of Delany and Richardson as Ireland folded for 199. Prendergast made up for her duck in the batting innings by dismissing Juliët Post for nought in the third over. Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis weathered the early storm with a 59-run partnership. Once de Leede was dismissed for 34, Robine Rijke joined Kalis at the crease. Their 73-run partnership took the Netherlands close to victory, though Kalis fell short of a well-deserved half-century by just three runs. Needing to go run-a-ball in the last 10 overs with seven wickets in hand, it seemed a simple chase for the Dutch. Two run-outs, including that of skipper Siegers, changed the dynamic of the game before Prendergast struck to dismiss the well-set Rijke for 56. Needing 35 from the last four overs, the pressure of the asking rate got to the Netherlands as they succumbed to a 29-run defeat. The Dutch, who were cruising at 158/3, were skittled out for 170. ZIMBABWE BEAT USA BY 1 WICKET Put in to bat first, Gargi Bhogle and Mahika Kandanala gave USA a solid start in the Powerplay, putting on 38 runs for the first wicket before departing in quick succession. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals, losing Lisa Ramjit and Shebani Bhaskar in a span of six overs. The wicket of skipper Sindhu Sriharsha for 22 triggered a collapse as the rest of the batting unit fell apart. Tara Norris offered some resistance with a 23-ball 18 which included three boundaries but found no support from the lower order. USA, who were 89/4 at one point, were skittled out for 131 with Loreen Tshuma the pick of the bowlers with figures of 10-2-19-3. Modester Mupachikwa and Sharne Mayers got Zimbabwe off to blazing starting, stitching together 57 runs of the target in under 10 overs. Despite losing both openers soon after, it looked like the hosts were cruising to victory before they collapsed in stunning fashion. Moksha Chaudhary ran riot with the ball, claiming four wickets in a span of four overs. From 73/2, Zimbabwe were seven down for 87. At this stage, every small partnership was worth gold. Precious Marange and Loryn Phiri added 10 runs for the eighth wicket before Marange and Nomvelo Sibanda put on 18 runs for the ninth. Once Marange got out, it was down to the No. 10 and 11 batters Nomvelo Sibanda and Francisca Chipare to get Zimbabwe across the line. At that point, they still needed 17 runs. Chipare found the ropes twice in the next over to release the pressure and finished the game off in style with a boundary as Zimbabwe got across the line by the barest of margins.

BIPIN DANI One more Sri Lanka women's team player is tested positive in Zimbabwe, it is reliably learnt. According to highly placed sources in Harare, Kavisha Dilhari, who was sharing room with one of the other three players (Sachini Nisansala), tested positive for Covid-19 during the last PCR test conducted on Monday. "Unlike the senior men players, all women players are sharing the hotel rooms and that's how the 20-year-old right-arm off-break bowler was infected", the source, speaking exclusively over the telephone said.   The total four, who are isolated after tested positive are : The vice-captain Harshitha Madavi, Vishmi Gunaratne, Sachini Nisansala and Kavisha Dilhari. All four are under medical care. Tour on Sri Lanka's participation in the Women's World Cup qualifier is in no doubt. The ICC has made it known to all the participating teams that the matches would be played as per original schedule. 

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai:-Bangladesh batters Fargana Hoque and Rumana Ahmed have made notable gains in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings after helping their team beat Pakistan in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 Group B match in Harare on Sunday. Fargana’s steady 45 that laid the foundation for the three-wicket win, helped her gain one slot to reach 25th position in the latest weekly update to the women’s rankings, carried out on Tuesdays. Rumana’s unbeaten 50, that got the team over the line with two balls to spare, has lifted her five places to 29th position. Off-spinner Salma Khatun is up four places to 35th among bowlers while left-arm spinner Nahida Akter has progressed four slots to 41st position after their team’s opening match in the nine-team tournament being played across four venues in Harare with three teams due to book spots in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to be held in New Zealand in March-April. For Pakistan, Aliya Riaz and Nida Dar have made significant progress among batters after putting on 137 runs for the sixth wicket. Aliya, who scored 61 not out off 82 balls, is up five places to 32nd while Nida’s 111-ball 87 has helped her gain seven slots and reach 37th position. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu’s two wickets have carried her four places to 17th position while Nida is also up four places to 29th after taking one for 17 in 10 overs. Anam Amin has gone from 43rd to 40th position.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-Pakistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka put their first points on board in Harare at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifiers while Bangladesh made it two wins out of two. WEST INDIES BEAT IRELAND BY 6 WICKETS Put in to bat first by West Indies, openers Leah Paul and Gaby Lewis started well for Ireland. With the Windies bowlers bowling tight lines, Paul and Lewis had to pick and choose their moments to attack. The two put on a 79-run stand for the first wicket before Anisa Mohammed struck to remove Lewis. The wicket of Lewis triggered a massive collapse. Amy Hunter was run-out off the very next delivery without facing a ball. Mohammed next scalped Paul (25) as Ireland lost three wickets in a span of eight deliveries. Hayley Matthews then got in the act and removed Laura Delany and Orla Prendergast in the same over. Eimear Richardson (32) helped Ireland go past the 150-run mark but she did not find enough support at the other end, with only Mary Waldron getting to double digits. Chasing 159, the Windies openers knocked off 61 of those runs inside 13 overs. Though Rashada Williams was not at her best in her 34-ball 8, Deandra Dottin was on song, bringing up her fifty in just 47 balls. Eimear Richardson eventually picked Dottin's wicket for 73 but the damage was already done by then. Stafanie Taylor's unbeaten 41 guided West Indies to a win with more than 10 overs to spare. SRI LANKA BEAT NETHERLANDS BY 34 RUNS (DLS METHOD) Sri Lankan openers got the team off to a flier after being asked to bat first by the Netherlands. The 93-run partnership came in just 13.4 overs with Hasini Perera contributing only 26 from 43 balls. At the other end, Chamari Athapaththu went absolutely berserk, with the fall of wickets of Perera and Prasadani Weerakkody making no difference to her approach. She brought up her hundred in just 64 balls. Caroline de Lange eventually brought an end to the whirlwind innings, claiming her third wicket of the day before picking another one her very next over. Nilakshi de Silva and Anushka Sanjeewani steadied the ship after the two quick wickets. Oshadi Ranasinghe's stuck around the tail, taking Sri Lanka to 278/9 in 50 overs. Netherlands lost Juliët Post early on with Udeshika Prabodhani hitting timber in the third over. Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis stuck in after the early wicket, mixing caution with aggression en route their respective fifties. The duo posted 141 runs for the second wicket before Athapaththu, the star with the bat, broke through for Sri Lanka will the ball, dismissing de Leede for 77. The wicket triggered a mini-collapse as the Netherlands lost their next four wickets for just 21 runs, including the set batter Kalis. Rain interruptions in the game meant that the Netherlands fell short by 34 runs. BANGLADESH BEAT BANGLADESH BY 269 RUNS Coming into game after a stunning final over win over Pakistan, Murshida Khatun and Sharmin Akhter got Bangladesh off to a quick start, stringing a run-a-ball 96 run partnership. Khatun fell three runs short of a fifty but captain Nigar Sultana's 26-ball 33 ensured Bangladesh don't lose momentum after the wicket. Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Akhter then put on 137 runs for the third wicket, during the course of which the latter brought up her century in 117 balls. USA picked up three wickets in quick succession, with Moksha Chaudhary accounting for two of those but Akhter and Lata Mondal finished strong for Bangladesh to take them to 322/5. USA's chase of 323 got off to a poor start, with opener Mahika Kandanala run out in the second over and were soon three down inside the Powerplay. Rumana Ahmed picked up the wickets skipper Sindhu Sriharsha and Shebani Bhaskar while Khatun dismissed Isani Vaghela as USA found themselves stuttering at 26/6. Tara Norris' knock of 16, which was one of the two double-digit scores in the USA's innings, only delayed the inevitable. Once she fell, the USA were bundled out for 53, giving Bangladesh their second win of the tournament by a massive margin of 269 runs.   PAKISTAN BEAT THAILAND BY 52 RUNS Opting to bat first, Pakistan lost their opener Muneeba Ali early in the 7th over. Omaima Sohail and Iram Javed's stay at the crease did not last long either, with both the batters walking back in consecutive overs. Captain Javeria Khan and Nida Dar consolidated the innings with a 38-run stand that came in 72 balls. Once Dar fell, Khan and Aliya Riaz put on a 29-run partnership that took Pakistan past the 100-run mark but at a very slow pace. Thipatcha Putthawong scalped the wicket of Khan soon after. Putthawong then cleaned up the tail, picking up the wickets of Fatima Sana, Diana Baig and Anam Amin to complete her five-for. She finished with figures of 9-3-18-5. Defending just 146 runs for the win, Pakistan needed early wickets and their bowlers did just that. Natthakan Chantham and Wongpaka Liengprasert were back in the hut for a duck inside the first four overs. Onnicha Kamchomphu counter-attacked with a 15-ball 16 but Nida Dar scalped her wicket before she could do more damage. Just when a partnership was building between Sornnarin Tippoch and captain Naruemol Chaiwai, a change of ends for Dar proved to be successful as she broke the stand. Chaiwai's run-out few overs later meant Thailand had lost half their side for 52. There was no coming back from that position for Thailand, despite Nattaya Boochatham offering some resistance with a 50-ball 18. With the pressure of the required run rate building, Thailand's lower order fell apart as Pakistan skittled them out for 93 to get their first points on board.

Sports Bulletin Report Harare, Zimbabwe (November 22, 2021):-Pakistan only managed to get 20 runs in the first 6 overs of Power-play and also lost the wicket of opener Ayesha Zafar to a run-out, as starting the innings after losing the toss. The runs were hard to come by for Pakistan with the bowlers keeping it tight even after fielding restrictions were lifted. Bangladesh eventually reaped the rewards for their brilliant bowling, with the wicket of Muneeba Ali triggering a mini-collapse. In a span of four overs, Pakistan lost four wickets for just seven runs. Ritu Moni scalped the wickets of Ali and Omaima Sohail in a span of three balls while Nahida Akter sent skipper Javeria Khan and Iram Javed in consecutive overs. Pakistan, who were 42/1 at one stage, had lost half their side with just 49 runs on board. Pakistan needed something special to get out of the situation. Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz answered the call, stitching together a stunning 137-run stand to bail Pakistan out of trouble. Both the batters brought up their half-centuries. While Dar got out in the 49th over, Riaz remained unbeaten on 61* to help Pakistan post a respectable total of 201/7. In response, Anam Amin struck early for Pakistan, dismissing Murshida Khatun in the Powerplay. Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque put on 70 runs for the second wicket but were made to work very hard for their runs. The bowlers were splendid in the first 10 overs, giving away just one boundary. The two batters targetted Fatima Sana, who gave 17 runs in her opening two overs. Nida Dar and Nashra Sandhu bowled very well in the middle overs to put Pakistan in a strong position going into the slog overs. Bowling continuously between overs 17 and 34, they gave away only 34 runs, with Sandhu accounting for the wickets of Akhter and skipper Nigar Sultana. Bangladesh were in further trouble once they lost the set batter Fargana Hoque in the 36th over. Needed 89 runs in the last 10 overs, Rumana Ahmed and Ritu Moni finally started to find the boundaries. Ahmed found the ropes twice in the 44th over against Diana Baig while Ritu Moni smashed Sana for three consecutive fours. However, three wickets in four balls threatened to derail all the momentum as the required run rate climbed over 10. However, Ahmed calmed the nerves in the dugout, hitting Sohail for four boundaries in the 48th over. Ahmed got to her fifty in the final over with Salma Khatun keeping her company with an unbeaten 11-ball 16 as Bangladesh clinched the thriller with two balls to spare. THAILAND BEAT ZIMBABWE Thailand opted to bat first in the second ICC Women's World Cup qualifier of the day in Harare against hosts Zimbabwe. Natthakan Chantham and Sornnarin Tippoch consolidated the innings after the early wicket of Nattaya Boochatham, who was out bowled by Esther Mbofana. They looked set for their half-centuries but fell short of the milestone, with Loreen Tshuma scalping both the batters in consecutive overs. Skipper Naruemol Chaiwai and Nannapat Koncharoenkai navigated Thailand through the rest of the middle overs, adding 69 runs for the fourth wicket. Chanida Sutthiruang's 28-ball 35* helped Thailand post a solid target of 248 for Zimbabwe to chase down. In response, Zimbabwe got off to a slow yet steady start, with the openers putting on 49 for the first wicket in 17 overs. After the fall of the wicket, Sharne Mayers and Josephine Nkomo upped the scoring rate, stitching 59 runs in 70 balls. Once Mayers fell short of a fifty by three runs, Nkomo Mary-Anne Musonda started to take the attack to the Thailand bowlers. Both the batters brought up their respective fifties and brought the equation down to 65 in 10 overs with eight wickets still in hand. Suleeporn Laomi struck for Thailand in the 41st over, breaking the 77-run partnership that came in just 75 balls. The wicket derailed all the momentum that Zimbabwe had built as they struggled to find boundaries in the death. In fact, they found the ropes just once in the last nine overs. Despite Musonda batting till the end of the innings, Zimbabwe fell short by 9 runs as Thailand put their first points on board.

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (November 21, 2021):-Three Sri Lanka players at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 have tested positive for COVID-19 and are isolating. The players tested positive following a screening of all team members after one player showed mild symptoms, as per the bio-secure protocols in place to ensure the safety of all participants in the nine-team event, which got underway in Harare today. Two of the players are experiencing mild symptoms, whilst the third is asymptomatic. All three are isolating and receiving the appropriate medical care. The remainder of the Sri Lanka squad, are negative but are currently isolating as a precaution and will be re-tested ahead of their opening match against the Netherlands on Tuesday. ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said the event would be proceeding as planned: “We have playing squads of 15 at the event, which allows for injuries and illness, including COVID-19 to be managed, and in addition teams have had the option of bringing traveling reserves with them. As you would expect, the remainder of the squad are being closely monitored and they will all be re-tested ahead of taking to the field on Tuesday. “The event bio-security plan provides us with protocols to manage positive tests effectively with the intention of enabling the event to proceed whilst keeping all other players and participants safe.” Sri Lanka play the Netherlands in their opening match on Tuesday with their remaining Group A matches on Saturday (vs the West Indies) and Monday (vs Ireland). Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Zimbabwe and the USA form Group B, with three sides from each group making it to the Super Six stage, in which the final placings will be decided. The tournament decides three qualifiers for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to be held in New Zealand from 4 March to 3 April, joining five teams who have already qualified through the ICC Women’s Championship – Australia, England, India, South Africa and hosts New Zealand. The three qualifiers as well as the next two teams will also ensure places in the next ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) along with the top five from last time, as the number of teams in the third cycle of the IWC goes up from eight to 10 teams.

Sports Bulletin Report Harare, Zimbabwe (November 21, 2021):-After by a comprehensive win over Ireland Women in the warm-up match, Pakistan Women enter the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier with confidence. The national women’s team will play the opening match of the nine-team tournament against Bangladesh Women at Old Hararians Sports Club on Sunday. Pakistan, who are drawn in Group B, will then play Thailand Women, Zimbabwe Women and USA Women on 23, 27 and 29 November. The top three teams from the two groups will qualify for the Super 6 stage, from where top three teams will join the five sides – four teams that secured qualification by finishing in top four on the ICC Women’s Championship points table and event hosts New Zealand – for the event proper in March-April next year. Each and every match in the tournament holds significance as the points earned in the first round group matches will be transferred to the Super Six stage. Stressing on the importance of starting well, Pakistan captain Javeria Khan said, “Our match against Bangladesh is very important as it will set the tone of the tournament for us. As is the format, we will be carrying forward the points that we earn in the group stage, so this match is vital for us. “Every win uplifts the side and it was very good to see everyone contributing in the win against Ireland in the warm-up. This warm-up match helped us in accessing the conditions here and it provided us welcome match practice.” Pakistan squad: Javeria Khan (captain), Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wicketkeeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) Reserves players: Aiman Anwar, Maham Tariq and Rameen Shamim.