Sports Bulletin

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 Mohammad Nawaz, who had withdrawn from participation in the Test series for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy due to a foot injury, has been drafted in the side for both the ODI and T20I formats.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)

Aamir Ali Janjua SHAHRJAH:-Pakistan thrashed arch-rival India by 7 wickets in the Triangular T20 Blind Cricket Tournament at Skyland University Cricket Ground, Sharjah on Wednesday. This was third back-to-back victory of Pakistan in the series. In the morning, India won the toss and this time elected to bat first. Pakistani bowlers bowled on the tight lines and didn’t allow free runs to Indian batters. Pakistan restricted India to 163 runs on the board for the loss of 8 wickets in stipulated 20 overs. Indian Captain Prakash Jayaramaih was the main run-getter with 79 runs off 64 balls, while Sunil Ramesh chipped in with 24 runs. Badar Munir, Shahzaib Haider, and Anees Javed claimed a wicket apiece. In reply, Pakistan chased down the target of 164 runs in 18.4 overs for the loss of 3 wickets. Badar Munir and Muhammad Rashid played superbly and made 64 runs each off 34 balls and 48 balls respectively. Riasat Khan got out after scoring 20 runs. Deepak Malik and Irfan Dewan took 1 wicket each for India. Result: Pakistan won by 7 wickets Man of the Match: Badar Munir

ABDULLAH ASJAD ISLAMABAD:-Sindh beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(KPK) by 29 runs in a one day fixture of the Pakistan Cup 2022 at the House of Northern Islamabad on Wednesday. KPK skipper Khalid Usman asked opposite captain Mir Humza to bat first while Sindh’s batters set a mammoth target of 375 runs in 50 overs. Left-handed batter Sharjeel Khan played a sparkling innings and scored double ton. He scored 206 after facing just 136 deliveries as he smashed 19 fours and 14 maximums. Omair Bin Yousaf scored 40 runs in 37 balls while Danish Aziz added 38 runs in team total in 35 balls. KPK bowler Mohammad Wasim got 2 wickets and conceded 72 runs. Asif Afridi sent out solitary batter of Sindh for 37 runs while skipper Khalid Usman picked up a single wicket. In reply, KPK reached close to the big total of 375 but did not chase their target and bundled out at 345 runs in 47 overs and lost the match by 29 runs. Mohammad Sarwar was top scorer with 89 runs in 63 balls. He hit 8 fours and 5 sixes. Adil Amin scored 75 runs in 62 balls and smashed 8 fours and one huge six. Kamran Ghulam managed 55 runs in 61 balls with 5 fours and 2 maximum. Sindhi pacer Shahnawaz Dahani grabbed 5 wickets after conceding 64 runs. Sohail Khan got 2 wickets for 70 runs while captain Mir Humza took one wicket a piece. Summarized scorecard Sindh Batting: - total (374-6) 50 overs Sharjeel Khan (206 runs in 136 balls) 19 fours 14 sixes, Omair Bin Yousaf (40 runs in 37 balls) 5 fours, Danish Aziz (38 runs in 35 balls) 5 fours Pakhtunkhwa (KPK):-Bowling Mohammad Wasim( 2 for 72), Asif Afridi (1 for 37), Khalid Usman (1 for 48) Pakhtunkhwa(KPK) Batting :- total (345-10) 47 overs Mohammad Sarwar (89 runs in 63 balls)8 fours 5 sixes, Adil Amin ( 75 runs in 62 balls)8 fours 1 six, Kamran Ghulam (55 runs in 61 balls)5 fours 2 sixes    

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:-Pakistan Blind Cricket Team outclassed Bangladesh by 8 wickets in the 3rd match of T 20 Triangular Series at Skyland University Cricket Ground, Sharjah on Tuesday. In the morning, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistani bowlers didn’t allow the Bangladeshi batsmen to score freely and restricted them to 111 runs on the board for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. Bangladeshi Captain Ashiq ur Rehman made 48 runs off 44 balls. Matiullah was the best amongst the bowlers, he took 2 wickets while Mohsin Khan and Sajid Nawaz claimed one wicket each. In reply, Pakistan chased the target of 112 runs with ease in just 11.5 overs for the loss of 2 wickets. Riasat Khan and Badar Munir made 36 and 34 runs respectively and remained unbeaten. Faisal Mehmood and Matiullah got out after scoring 25 and 4 runs. Result: Pakistan won by 8 wickets Man of the Match: Matiullah

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Australia continued their imperious form at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 with a seven-wicket win over the West Indies in Wellington on Tuesday. The West Indies were bundled out for 131 as Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner took three wickets each, with captain Stafanie Taylor’s fifty the bright spot of the innings for the West Indies. Perry opened the bowling after the Windies chose to bat and picked up where she left off against New Zealand, dismissing Hayley Matthews, then the leading run-scorer in the competition, for a four-ball duck before Kycia Knight went the very next ball to leave the West Indies on four for two. Campbelle was eventually dismissed for 20 from 51 balls as Gardner claimed her first wicket of the day, with the all-rounder miscuing straight to midwicket as Beth Mooney took the catch. Gardner had her second before the 23rd over as she bowled Chedean Nation for the third duck of the innings. Taylor continued to provide resistance – despite runs being hard to come by against a disciplined bowling attack - but she found herself in need of a partner as Chinelle Henry and Aaliyah Alleyne both fell for 10. Taylor edged her way to her half-century – her 37th ODI fifty – hitting three fours before a drive to cover brought up the milestone with a two. But she was unable to add another run to the West Indies total as Gardner earned her third wicket, a review unable to save Taylor from the leg-before wicket call as she went for 50 from 91 balls. Gardner’s fine performance came to an end with ODI-best figures of three for 25 from her 10 overs, before Jess Jonassen got in on the wicket-taking, dismissing Shakera Selman for six – the off-spinner deceiving her with pace on the ball. The West Indies’ innings would end on 131 as ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup debutant Karishma Ramharack was caught at deep mid-wicket, Jonassen again impressing at the death. With only half the innings gone, Australia needed just 32 runs to win and the West Indies’ day got worse as Shamilia Connell hobbled off after injuring her hip while fielding. Haynes would get the winning runs to end on 83 not out as Australia chased down 132 with 118 balls to spare. Scores in brief Australia beat West Indies at Basin Reserve, Wellington by seven wickets West Indies 131 all out, 45.5 overs (Stafanie Taylor 50,; Ellyse Perry 3/22, Ashleigh Gardner 3/25) Australia 132/3, 30.2 overs (Rachael Haynes 83 not out, Beth Mooney 28 not out) Player of the Match: Ellyse Perry (Australia)

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.

Sports Bulletin Report HAMLITON:-Bangladesh secured their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup win as Fargana Hoque’s patient 71 steered them to a historic nine-run victory over Pakistan. The batter anchored the Tigresses to 234 for seven before Fahima Khatun took three late wickets to help restrict Pakistan to 225 for nine, despite Sidra Amin’s superb 104. Pakistan struggled to keep up with the required run-rate and lost regular wickets during the final 10 overs, just as they were looking to up the tempo, and never looked favourites to win. They remain without an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup victory in 13 years, while Bangladesh celebrated a major milestone in their development after an impressive all-round display. With batting second the favoured option in Hamilton, it was advantage Pakistan, as they won the toss and elected to field. Shamima Sultana was the first batter to fall in the ninth over as she hit Nida Dar straight to midwicket for 17, bringing Fargana to the crease. The Tigresses finished the powerplay on 51 for one, with Sharmin Akhter on a run-a-ball 29, but some miserly bowling from Pakistan slowed her down before she gloved an Omaima Sohail delivery back onto her own stumps for 44. That left Bangladesh on 79 for two at the beginning of the 20th over, with Fargana on just eight off 32 deliveries and knowing she now had to step up and anchor the innings. Fortunately for Bangladesh, she did just that. While miserly Pakistan bowling restricted Bangladesh, Fargana hit a much-needed boundary mid-way through the 25th over as they reached the halfway stage at 92 for two. Sensing her moment, the No.3 smacked Fatima Sana for successive boundaries at the beginning of the 31st, while she then had an LBW decision overturned after initially being given out. With Nigar Sultana brilliant at finding ones and twos and Pakistan struggling for wickets, Bangladesh worked their way into a promising position as Fargana brought up her ninth ODI half-century off 89 balls. Nigar (46) fell in the 40th over after a busy 64-ball innings that brought just one boundary and her replacement, Rumana Ahmed, upped the tempo alongside Fargana. Successive boundaries helped Bangladesh past 200 in the 44th over but Rumana’s 13-ball cameo ended in the next as she holed out off Nashra Sundhu. The same bowler also removed Fargana two overs later by finding the edge of her bat for 71 and then trapped Fahima Khatun LBW with the very next ball. Salma Khatun was forced to block the hat-trick ball, while some clever running through the rest of the innings helped Bangladesh to their highest-ever women’s ODI score. Pakistan made a promising start in reply, with Sidra and Nahida Khan at the top of the order. They reached 46 for no loss at the end of the powerplay and then brought up the 50 partnership in the 13th. The breakthrough came in the 24th over, as Nahida chopped a Rumana delivery onto her own stumps for 43, ending a promising 91-run stand. Sidra was then dropped twice in the space of three overs, including a simple chance at point from a thick edge, but Pakistan’s main concern was an increasing run-rate which had creeped to over six. They reached the final 10 overs requiring 67 with eight wickets in hand and when they scored 11 off the 41st over, it looked like the game would go down to the wire. But Sidra was soon running out of partners, as Omaima went for 10 and Nida Dar for a first-ball duck, while the 44th over proved a key turning point. Fahima Khatun took two wickets in two balls to remove Aliya Riaz and Fatima Sana, before Sidra Nawaz was run out for just one to leave Pakistan on 188 for seven. Sidra Amin brought up her maiden ODI century shortly after but was run out for 104 in the 48th and though Pakistan needed 16 to win off the last, they fell nine runs short. Scores in brief Bangladesh beat Pakistan at Seddon Park, Hamilton by nine runs Bangladesh 234/7 in 50 overs (Fargana Hoque 71, Nigar Sultana 46, Sharmin Akhter 44; Nashra Sundhu 3/41) Pakistan 225/9 in 50 overs (Sidra Ameen 104, Nahida Khan 43; Fahima Khatun 3/38, Rumana Ahmed 2/29).