Sports Bulletin

By BIPIN DANI Sri Lanka's legendary cricketer and the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) president Kumar Sangakkara opened the new stands named after Denis Compton and Bill Edrich at Lord's on Thursday.   The late Denis Compton and Bill Edrich entertained thousands of spectators during their careers, and their contribution to the history of Lord’s will continue to inspire visitors to the Home of Cricket through the stands. Those present also included two generations of the Compton and Edrich families, of which the new stands continue to bear their respective names.  Sangakkara's presence in England is also because of his commentary assignment for the international matches.   Sanga also met former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who as a BCCI president is already in England to watch the ongoing Test at Lord's, the Mecca of Cricket.  Ganguly made his Test debut (in 1996) at Lord's and also scored a century at this ground. 

SPORTS REPORT Rawalpindi (August 13, 2021):-Rawalpindi won the Northern-leg of the two-day City Cricket Association Tournament 2021-22 on first innings lead basis after their final against Islamabad ended in a draw at the Shalimar Cricket Ground on Thursday. Rawalpindi successfully defended their first innings score of 206 to dismiss Islamabad for 202. When the match ended, Islamabad were 52 for one after Rawalpindi had set them a 239-run victory target. The stars of Rawalpindi’s victory were Hamza Arshad and Raheel Wakeel, who scored 54 and 50, respectively in their side’s modest 206, and Kashif Ali, who grabbed four wickets for 54 runs to help his side dismiss Islamabad four runs short. In the two-group 11-team Northern-leg, Rawalpindi topped Pool A with two wins and two draws from five matches, while Islamabad topped Pool B with one win and one draw from four outings. Rawalpindi’s Hamza, who scored 54 and 69 in the final, was the most successful batsman with 550 runs at 78.57 with a best score of 129 not out. Second on the batting chart was Sarmad Hameed from Jhelum who scored 431 runs from five matches at 86.20 with unbeaten 157 his best in the tournament. The right-handed batsman had scored two centuries and one half-century in the tournament, while his teammate Mohammad Ajmal finished as the third leading run-getter with 335 runs at 67. Rawalpindi’s Kashif Ali, Jhelum’s Shoaib Amir and Attock’s Nadeem Sikander shared the bowling honours with 26 scalps apiece. Kashif bagged two five-fers and one 10-wicket haul, leg-spinner Shoaib’s best figures in an innings were six for 38, while left-arm spinner Nadeem’s best returns in an innings were six for 93. Triangular stage commences in three City Cricket Association Tournaments The triangular stage of the CCA Tournaments has commenced in Central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. In the three-group 19-team Central Punjab-leg, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Sheikhupura qualified for the triangular stage. Faisalabad and Sialkot topped their respective pools with two wins and two draws from five matches each while Sheikhupura topped Pool A with four drawn games from six outings in the tournament. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, amongst 19 teams, divided in three groups, Bannu, Mardan and Haripur qualified for the triangular stage. In Sindh, amongst 17 participating teams, divided in three groups, Sukkur, Zone VI and Zone VII qualified for the triangular stage. Thirteen teams in the Balochistan-leg of the CCA Tournament are competing in the group stage to secure the two spots in the final. These teams are divided into two groups. The final of the 14-team Southern Punjab-leg will be played between Muzaffargarh and Vehari from 15 August. Scores in brief: Final Result – Match drawn (Rawalpindi won the final on first innings lead) Rawalpindi 206 all out, 63.5 overs (Hamza Arshad 54, Raheel Wakeel 50; Mohammad Amir 6-47) and 234-4d, 51 overs (Hamza Majeed 133, Hamza Arshad 69; Hammad Khan 2-20) Islamabad 202 all out, 62.3 overs (Mohammad Irfan 52, Umar Nawaz 49; Kashif Ali 4-54) and 52-1, 6 overs (Azeem Bari 25 not out)

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Islamabad (August 13, 2021):-The England men’s cricket team will visit Pakistan to play couple of T20 international before taking part in the T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in United Arab Emirates and Oman jointly. English women’s team will also tour Pakistan to play two T20 and three One Day Internationals, as all matches will be played at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi. According to media department of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Eoin Morgan’s side, along with Heather Knight’s team, will arrive in Islamabad on 9 October and while the men’s squad will depart for Dubai on 15 October, England women will stay back for the three ODIs to be played on 17, 19 and 21 October at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “We are delighted to welcome both the England men’s team for what will be their first tour to Pakistan since 2005, and the England women’s team, who will be touring Pakistan for the first time. Both are additional tours with England men’s side scheduled to return to Pakistan in the last quarter of 2022 for white-ball and ICC World Test Championship fixtures.” Both Morgan and Knight’s sides are 50-over world champions. England men are ranked No.1 in ICC T20I Team Rankings and England women are second – just five points behind ICC Women’s T20 World Cup winners Australia. Schedule: 9 Oct – England men and women sides’ arrival 13 Oct – Pakistan Women v England Women; Pakistan Men v England Men (T20I double-header) 14 Oct - Pakistan Women v England Women; Pakistan Men v England Men (T20I double-header) 17 Oct – Pakistan Women v England Women, 1st ODI 19 Oct – Pakistan Women v England Women, 2nd ODI 21 Oct – Pakistan Women v England Women, 3rd ODI

SPORTS NEWS Dubai (August 11, 2021):-All-rounder and captain of the West Indies women squad Stafanie Taylor was deservingly voted the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for July 2021. Taylor contributed with both bat and ball as she led her team to win the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan in July. In the four ODIs against Pakistan, Stafanie scored 175 runs with a strike rate of 79.18 and took three wickets with an economy rate of 3.72. Stafanie was also on top of the rankings for batters and allrounders in the MRF ICC Women’s ODI Rankings earlier in July. Commenting on her recognition, Stafanie said: “This is a bit surprising to me, winning ICC Player of the Month award for July, but I’m happy. It shows that the hard work you put in, will pay off and it did, against Pakistan, to help us win that series. We played well in both formats. “I’m over in England now playing in The Hundred, which is a different kind of competition, played at a faster pace, but I’m still working hard. We’re also looking forward to the series against South Africa at home, and we will be looking to win that as well. I want to thank the fans for all their support, as it is always appreciated.” From the Bangladesh camp, experienced all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was deservingly named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2021 for his stellar performance across all three formats of the game. Shakib’s contributions to all three formats of the game helped Bangladesh win the series against Zimbabwe last month. He scored 96 unbeaten runs as Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by three wickets in the second ODI at the Harare Sports Club. In the T20Is with the ball, Hasan took three wickets at an economy rate of seven leading his country to a series win against Zimbabwe. He is also the top Men’s all-rounder in the MRF ICC Men’s T20 Rankings announced earlier today. Reacting to his award Shakib Al Hasan said: “It is very humbling to be voted ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2021. There have been many outstanding performances during the month and that is why this is special for me. “I find most pleasure and satisfaction when I contribute to wins and therefore, I am very happy to have helped in Bangladesh’s successes over the last few weeks.”

SPORTS NEWS Kingston, Jamaica (August 11, 2021):-Pakistan have announced a 19-member Test squad for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against the West Indies. The two-Test series will commence at the Sabina Park on Thursday, August 12. The squad was confirmed by Pakistan captain Babar Azam during his pre-series media conference, held via teleconference, on Wednesday. Pakistan Test squad: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (wicketkeeper) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Yasir Shah (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab). Pakistan captain Babar Azam “Looking at the likely team composition for the two Tests and giving preference to wellbeing of the players, it has been agreed to release Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz so that they can return to Pakistan and spend quality time with their families. This will also give them a few extra days to relax, regroup and recharge for the commitment ahead, which commence with the series against Afghanistan. “The past 12 months have been tough and the cricket that lays ahead is equally challenging and demanding. As such, we need to have as many fresh bodies as practically possible without comprising on the team results and performances. “Away Test series are always challenging and it is our endeavour to be a high-performing side on away series. Red-ball cricket is the pinnacle format of the game and is a test of skill, endurance, technique, patience and fitness. Test cricket does not allow you to show complacency at any stage and this is what we will like to achieve at the Sabina Park over the next couple of weeks. “Jamaican pitches provide a good challenge to the batters hence our batters need to come to the party and display their true potential and calibre in the two Tests. They have performed well this year and it is now time to take that confidence into the Test series and put up an improved and enhanced performance. “Whenever you come to the West Indies, you want to play your best cricket because of the strong heritage and history of this beautiful region. In this background, it was frustrating to see weather dominate the T20I series. As part of the T20 World Cup preparations, we wanted to give maximum opportunities to our players against the firepower of the West Indies but unfortunately the series got badly affected due to rain. “No one can control weather, but I think it is time to look at alternates to ensure cricket is not affected by weather. Maybe adding reserve days to every white-ball matches is an option, I don’t know, but I think there needs to be some debate around ensuring there is minimum loss of cricket due to weather.” Head to Head In the 17 Test series played between the two teams, Pakistan enjoy a 6-5 edge over the West Indies. However, the West Indies has a clear 4-1 lead over Pakistan in the eight series played in the Caribbean. In the last meeting between in 2016-17, Pakistan ended their win drought in the Caribbean by clinching their first-ever Test series victory by 2-1. In this series, Pakistan won the first Test in Jamaica by seven wickets before the host levelled the series in Barbados by winning second Test by 106 runs. In a nail-biting and thrilling series decider in Dominica, Pakistan won by 101 runs when Yasir Shah famously bowled Shannon Gabriel on the final ball of the penultimate over of the series with Roston Chase stranded at the non-striker’s end. Yasir Shah, who was adjudged player of the series, is part of the Pakistan squad, while Gabriel will be missed by the West Indies. Misbah-ul-Haq was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in that series with 271 runs. He is presently the head coach and will aim to achieve the rare distinction of winning in the West Indies, both as captain and coach. ICC World Test Championship and Rankings For both Pakistan and the West Indies, this is their first series in the ICC World Test Championship. In this event, each side plays three home and three away series. Pakistan’s other away commitments are against Bangladesh (post-T20 World Cup) and Sri Lanka (July/August 2021), while their home series are against Australia, New Zealand and England (all in 2022). In the ICC World Test Championship, a side gets 12 points for winning a match, four for a draw and six for a tie, while a side is docked one championship point for each over short. In the ICC Test Team Rankings, Pakistan is ranked fifth with 94 points, while the West Indies are seventh on 78 points. If Pakistan wins both the Tests, they will rise to 97 points, while the West Indies will slip to 75 points. If the series result is reversed, then Pakistan will drop two points behind South Africa in sixth place on 86 points, while the West Indies will move to 85 points. A 1-1 draw will mean Pakistan will finish on 92 points (down by two points), while the West Indies will end on 80 points (up by two points). Player rankings: Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Azhar Ali are ranked 10th and 17th, respectively in the ICC Test Player Rankings, while Mohammad Rizwan is just outside the top-20 in 21st position. No West Indian batter is included in top 40 Test rank batsmen. In bowling, West Indies' Jason Holder and Kemar Roach are 11th and 13th, respectively while Pakistan's Hasan Ali and Mohammad Abbas are sharing 15th position. Shaheen Shah Afridi is 22nd and Yasir Shah 29th, and will be aiming to move up the ladder. Year 2021 for Pakistan players: With 407 runs, Azhar Ali is the most successful Pakistan batsman in 2021. Opener Abid Ali (359), Fawad Alam (333), Mohammad Rizwan (303) and Faheem Ashraf (247) are the other batsmen to dominate the two Tests each against South Africa and Zimbabwe. Hasan Ali is Pakistan’s most successful bowler this year. He has taken 26 wickets since 1 January 2021. Meanwhile, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken 19 and Nauman Ali has taken 16 wickets. Fixtures: 12-16 August: 1st Test match, Sabina Park, Jamaica 20-24 August: 2nd Test match, Sabina Park, Jamaica      

SPORTS REPORT Lahore (August 9, 2021):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced the schedule of 2021-22 domestic cricket season in which it will hold 10 tournaments, comprising 266 matches. In the 2020-21 season, the PCB had organised 220 matches in nine tournaments to become the only cricket board to deliver a complete domestic schedule. Domestic competitions in the 2021-22 season are separate to the home international matches against New Zealand, England, West Indies and Australia, and the HBL Pakistan Super League, which will be held between September 2021 and March 2022. Not added to the 2021-22 domestic matches are the ongoing two-day CCA tournament matches, which commenced on 16 July and will conclude on 22 August, and the CCA U19 tournament that will begin on 1 September. The two tournaments are designed to provide opportunities to the outstanding performers to graduate to the Cricket Association sides for the senior and pathway competitions in the PCB Domestic Season 2021-22. The additional matches in the forthcoming domestic circuit have been added in pathways cricket for which the PCB has allowed the six Cricket Associations to field two sides each in the U16 and U19 tournaments. This means 12 sides will feature in the 62-match National U19 three-day championship and One-Day Cup, which will run side by side, from 3 October to 12 November in Gujranwala, Islamabad, Muridke, Rawalpindi and Sialkot. Another 12 sides will take part in the 31-match National U16 Cup from 8 to 19 March 2022 with Rawalpindi hosting the single-league competition. The National U13 One-Day Cup has returned to the national circuit after missing out last year due to Covid-19 pandemic. This single-league event will be held in Faisalabad from 8 to 18 February 2022. Director High Performance, Nadeem Khan: “For the 2021-22 age-group cricket season, each Cricket Association will be allowed to field two U16 and U19 sides so that we can increase the pool of players at the grassroots level with a focus on providing more opportunities and exposure to our next generation of cricketers. “This strategy is aligned to the Cricket Associations planning of reviving clubs, schools and universities cricket within their jurisdictions with the best players getting opportunities to express their talent in national tournaments. “In the U16 and U19 competitions, the players will be provided the same environment as in senior cricket which will help in their overall development as professional cricketers.” The 2021-22 season will kick-off with the eight-day Cricket Associations T20 tournament on 15 September in which the six second XI Cricket Association sides will go head to head in the shortest format of the game in Quetta. The National T20, featuring country’s best shortest format players, will be held from 25 September to 13 October. Eighteen first round matches will be held in Multan, while the remaining 15 matches, including the two semi-finals and the final, will be held in Lahore. Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, a jewel in the crown of Pakistan’s domestic events, will commence on 20 October. The first half of the 10-round single-league competition will be held in Multan, Faisalabad and Lahore. The event will then move to Karachi where it will culminate with the five-day final from 29 December. The three-day double-league Cricket Associations Championship for second XIs will be held from 28 September to 14 November, while the 50-over single-league Cricket Associations Challenge for second XIs will be played from 19 to 27 November. Both the tournaments will be held in Faisalabad, Lahore and Sheikhupura. Curtains will fall on the 2021-22 season in Lahore on 30 March 2022 with the final of the Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament, which will get underway on 25 February and will be played on a double-league format. The other two event venues will be Faisalabad and Multan. Nadeem Khan: “We are excited to confirm a quality-based and competitive cricket season, which will not only test the skills, technique and fitness of professional cricketers but will help the selectors and coaches identify top performers for their inclusion in the national framework. “With the amount of international cricket across all three formats scheduled in the 2021-22 season and beyond, the upcoming season will prove to be a pathway for all those aspiring to serve Pakistan cricket and making a name at the international level. “This, like the previous season, will be a tough one that will test the cricketers to their limits. But that’s exactly what we want. We want to see our domestic system produce mentally and physically tough players who can perform in any condition against any opposition. “Most of the first XI matches will be televised and promoted digitally, meaning no performance can be ignored or overlooked. “Like the previous season, the PCB will not only create playing opportunities for these players but will also provide them quality playing facilities as well as international standard lodging and boarding so they can produce their best performances. If we want our domestic system to be robust, competitive and valued, then we need to make sure we cater for all these basic requirements, which in the past have fallen through the cracks.” Details on the tournament schedule, squads and match official appointments will be released in the lead up to the events. Schedule (subject to any late changes): First XI competitions National T20 (six teams, 33 matches) – 25 September-13 October Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (six teams, 31 matches) – 20 October-29 December Pakistan Cup (six teams, 33 matches) – 25 February-30 March 2022 Second XI competitions Cricket Associations T20 (six teams, 15 matches) – 15-22 September Cricket Associations Championship (three-day) (six teams, 30 matches) – 28 September-14 November Cricket Associations Challenge (50 overs) (six teams, 15 matches) – 19-27 November Pathway competitions National U19 Championship (three-day) and Cup (one-Day) (12 teams, 62 matches) - (3 October--12 November) National U16 Cup (One-Day) (12 teams, 31 matches) – 8-19 March 2022 National U13 Cup (One-Day) (16 matches) – 8-18 February 2022

SPORTS DESK Islamabad (August 8, 2021):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the July nominees for the ICC Player of the Month awards, instituted in January this year to recognise the best international performances across formats for male and female cricketers. The nominees for the monthly men’s awards this time are Shakib Al Hasan (BAN), Mitchell Marsh (AUS) and Hayden Walsh Jr (WI) while Hayley Matthews (WI), Fatima Sana (PAK) and Stafanie Taylor (WI) figure in the women’s shortlist. An independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world can now vote to decide the winners, which will be announced next week. Fans registered on icc-cricket.com/awards are invited to cast their votes for their favourite ICC player of the month for July in both categories. ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July: Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) Experienced star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh contributed to all three formats of the game as Bangladesh won the series against Zimbabwe last month. Shakib Al Hasan scored 96 unbeaten runs as Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by three wickets in the second ODI at the Harare Sports Club. In the T20Is with the ball, Hasan took three wickets at an economy rate of seven leading his country to a series win against Zimbabwe. Mitchell Marsh (Australia) Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh played three ODIs and five T20Is against West Indies last month. In the T20Is, Marsh scored 219 runs with a strike rate of 152.08 and took 8 wickets with an economy rate of 6.76, making him the lead run-scorer and wicket-taker for Australia in the series. Hayden Walsh Jr (West Indies) Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr played three ODIs against Australia last month, where he took seven wickets with an economy rate of 4.14. Walsh Jr was also the most impressive bowler in the T20I series against Australia where he picked up twelve wickets in five games at an average of 11.66, making him the leading wicket-taker for the West Indies in both the ODI and T20I series against Australia. ICC Women’s Player of the Month for July: Hayley Matthews (West Indies) West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews scored her second ODI hundred and took two wickets with the ball as West Indies cruised to a dominant series-clinching eight-wicket win over Pakistan last month. Matthews was also named Player of the Series against Pakistan. Fatima Sana (PAK) Fatima Sana was the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in the ODI series against the West Indies, and also a joint-leader for her side in the T20I series between the sides. A maiden five-wicket haul from Fatima Sana helped Pakistan defeat West Indies by 22 runs via the DLS method in the fifth ODI of the series. In the same game, with four overs remaining in a shortened innings due to a delayed start, Sana scored an unbeaten 28 off 19 balls which included four boundaries. She was also named the player of the match for her stellar performance. Stafanie Taylor (WI) Captain Stafanie Taylor contributed with both bat and ball as the West Indies won both their ODI and T20I series against Pakistan in July. In the four ODIs against Pakistan, Stafanie scored 175 runs with a strike rate of 79.18 and took three wickets with an economy rate of 3.72. Stafanie was also on top of the rankings for batters and all-rounders in the MRF ICC Women’s ODI Rankings earlier in July. The voting process: The three nominees for either category is shortlisted based on performances from the first to the last day of each calendar month. The shortlist is then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world. The ICC Voting Academy comprises prominent members of the cricket fraternity including well-known journalists, former players, broadcasters, and members of the ICC Hall of Fame. The Voting Academy submit their votes by email and hold a 90 per cent share of the vote. Fans registered with the ICC vote via the ICC website, accounting for the remaining 10 per cent. Winners are announced every second Monday of the month on the ICC’s digital channels. ICC Voting Academy for ICC Player of the Month July 2021: Afghanistan: Hameed Qayoomi and Javed Hamim; Australia: Melinda Farrell and Lisa Sthalekar; Bangladesh: Tarek Mahmoud and Mohammad Isam’ England: Elizabeth Ammon and Claire Taylor; Ireland: Ian Callender and Isobel Joyce; India: Annesha Ghosh and Irfan Pathan; New Zealand: Mark Geenty and John Wright; Pakistan: Faizan Lakhani and Ramiz Raja; South Africa: Firdose Moonda and Makhaya Ntini; Sri Lanka: Neville Victor Anthony and Russel Arnold; West Indies: Ian Bishop and Merissa Aguilleira; Zimbabwe: Tristan Holme and Mpumelelo Mbangwa; Others: Paul Radley and Dirk Nannes.

SPORTS DESK Islamabad (August 6, 2021):-The England and Wales Cricket Board can confirm that England fast bowler Jofra Archer underwent further scans on his injured right elbow last week. The scans revealed that he has suffered a recurrence of a stress fracture of his right elbow. In response to these findings, he has been ruled out for the rest of the year and will miss the current LV= Insurance Test series against India, the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 and the Ashes series in Australia. The 26-year-old, who had an operation in May to remove a bone fragment from his elbow, returned to play last month. As part of his return-to-bowling programme, he became aware of increasing discomfort in his elbow during matches for Sussex in the Vitality Blast and a 50-over friendly against Oxfordshire. The operation is not related to the stress fracture that sidelined the player previously. He will now spend time on an extended break from cricket before returning for a medical review in early autumn.

SPORTS REPORT Lahore (August 5, 2021):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced New Zealand will play three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League ODIs and five Twenty20 Internationals on their first tour to Pakistan in 18 years. Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium will be the venue of the 17, 19 and 21 September ODIs, while the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will stage the five T20Is from 25 September to 3 October. While the Rawalpindi ODIs will count towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification, third position on the ICC T20I Team Rankings will be up for grabs in Lahore. The ICC World Test Championship winners will return to Pakistan next year to play Test matches. New Zealand will be the first side to visit Pakistan in what will be a bumper 2021-22 season for the local cricket fans and supporters. Following New Zealand’s tour, England’s men and women sides will play white-ball matches in Pakistan before West Indies are expected to arrive in Karachi in December for three ODIs and three T20Is. Australia is scheduled to undertake a full tour in February/March 2022. PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “Series against a top-ranked side like New Zealand will be a perfect start to a mouth-watering and highly-exciting home season of red and white-ball cricket. The 2019 World Cup finalists, who are also the World Test champions and ranked third in T20Is, will draw tremendous attraction and interest from the local fans, and will reinforce Pakistan’s status as a safe and secure country. “I am pleased New Zealand Cricket has accepted our offer to play two additional Twenty20 Internationals. These will not only provide extra games to both the countries as part of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup preparations, but will also allow New Zealand players to spend extra days in Pakistan, familiarise with our culture and enjoy our hospitality. “With leading cricket playing countries resuming their tours to Pakistan in 2019, I remain confident and optimistic that the 2021-22 season starting with the series against New Zealand will prove to be a catalyst in rejuvenating our talented youngsters while attracting new fans to the game that has the most passionate following in the country.” NZC Chief Executive David White: “We’re very much looking forward to returning to Pakistan for the start of their home international season. “New Zealand was the first country outside India to tour Pakistan and we share a close relationship with the PCB. “It’s great that, after such a difficult time for Pakistan, international cricket is again being played in the country.” In the Super League, Pakistan have 40 points from nine ODIs, while New Zealand have won all three ODIs and are presently sitting pretty on 30 points. The seven top-ranked sides and World Cup hosts India will progress directly for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 to take place in India in October/November 2023. New Zealand last toured Pakistan in November 2003 when they played five ODIs. A year before, their last Test appearance in Pakistan was at the Gaddafi Stadium in May 2002, which is remembered for Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 329 and Shoaib Akhtar’s six for 11 in the first innings that set the platform for an innings and 324-run victory. Since the 2003 ODI series, Pakistan have thrice hosted New Zealand for ODIs in the United Arab Emirates with the Black Caps winning the 2019-10 and 2014-15 series )2-1 and 3-2, respectively) and drawing the 2018-19 series 1-1. However, Pakistan won the 2009-10 and 2018-19 T20I series by 2-0 and 3-0, respectively, while the 2014-15 series was tied at 1-1. New Zealand drew the 2014-15 Test series 1-1 and won the 2018-19 series by 2-1. Series schedule 11 Sep – Arrival in Islamabad       12-14 Sep – Room isolation 15-16 Sep – Training/practice/intra-squad match 17 Sep – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi 19 Sep – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi 21 Sep – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi 25 Sep – 1st T20I, Lahore 26 Sep – 2nd T20I, Lahore 29 Sep – 3rd T20I, Lahore 1 Oct – 4th T20I, Lahore 3 Oct – 5th T20I, Lahore

SPORTS REPORT Lahore (August 4, 2021):-Umar Akmal has been allowed to resume club cricket activities as part of his rehabilitation process, which commenced last month. In the processes completed to date, Umar has shown remorse, attended an anti-corruption lecture and participated in a Q&A session conducted by the Security and Anti-Corruption Department. His rehabilitation programme is expected to conclude next month, following which he will become eligible to participate in the Pakistan domestic cricket season 2021-22.