Cricket
U19 Men’s World Cup: India to meet Australia in final on Sunday
Sports Bulletin ReportBenoni (South Africa): India will take on Australia in the Men’s ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2024 final on Sunday (February 11, 2024) in Benoni South Africa. India confirmed their spot in the final after beating hosts South Africa by two wickets in a tense matchup on Tuesday. Chasing 245 for victory, India battled back from 32 for four to seal a memorable win thanks to a brilliant match-winning partnership between Sachin Dhas and captain Uday Saharan.Thursday’s second semi-final also provided no shortage of drama, as Australia emerged victorious over Pakistan by one wicket in the final over of the contest. Having bowled out Pakistan for a seemingly below par total of 179, Australia stuttered in their chase before their middle and lower order formed crucial partnerships to help them edge home in thrilling fashion.The highly anticipated final between the two sides will be hosted on Sunday 11 February at Willowmoore Park, Benoni, the same venue that staged both semi-finals, with the action commencing at 10h00 local time (SAST).India and Australia both head into the final undefeated, having topped their respective groups in both the initial stage and the Super Six stage, and can boast some of the most exciting young talent on the planet.Among the future stars that have impressed throughout the competition are skippers Uday Saharan of India and Hugh Weibgen of Australia, and both have their sights firmly set on lifting the coveted trophy on Sunday.India captain, Uday Saharan said: “As we approach the World Cup final, we carry the dreams of a billion hearts on our shoulders. Our journey has been a testament to our hard work, unity, and love for the game. In this final battle, we aim to create a legacy that inspires the next generation. It's not just a game; it's a chance to etch our names in history. Right from our first game, we have played with passion, determination, and a belief that we will get the coveted title home. In the final, against Australia, it is going to be no different as we go one step closer to defending the title successfully. Together, as one team, one nation, we march into the final, ready to seize our moment and make India proud. As a captain, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my team as we stand at the cusp of creating history.”Australia captain, Hugh Weibgen said: “We're really pleased to have made it through to the final after a close game against Pakistan and we can't wait to take on India in Sunday's final. The whole squad has done a terrific job throughout the tournament, and it would mean so much to us as a group to lift the trophy on Sunday. This is an opportunity to make our coaches as well as family and friends extremely proud. They have helped and supported us along the journey. India have obviously also had an outstanding tournament so far and are a class team. We're expecting they will provide a challenge for us, and we are looking forward to it.”These sides have met twice before in an ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final, with India having won on both previous occasions in 2012 and 2018. Match Official appointments for Sunday’s final have also been confirmed, with Allahudien Palekar and Langton Rusere selected as the on-field umpires. Rashid Riaz will assume the role of TV umpire, with Roland Black acting as fourth umpire and Shaid Wadvalla as Match Referee.
Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi elected as PCB's Chairman
Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, has been elected unanimously and unopposed as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Chairman for a three-year term. Shah Khawar had summoned a special meeting of the Board of Governors (BoG) today at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.Addressing the BoG following his election, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to have been unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. I am thankful for the trust and confidence reposed in me. I am fully committed to upgrading the standard of the game in the country and bringing professionalism in the administration of cricket in Pakistan.”Mustafa Ramday (PCB Patron’s nominee), Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi (PCB Patron’s nominee), Sajjad Ali Khokhar (President Regional Cricket Association AJK), Zafarullah Jadgal (President Regional Cricket Association Dera Murad Jamali), Tanveer Ahmed (President Regional Cricket Association Larkana), Tariq Sarwar (President Regional Cricket Association Bahawalpur), Mohammad Ismail Qureshi (Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited), Dr Anwaar Ahmad Khan (Ghani Glass Limited), Javaid Iqbal (State Bank of Pakistan), Osama Azhar, Pakistan Television, and Nadeem Irshad Kayani, Secretary to the Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (Non-voting member) attended the meeting.
President's Trophy: Pindi to host final between WAPDA and SNGPL
Sports Bulletin ReportRAWALPINDI: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) set to meet in the President’s Trophy cricket tournament final, as the Pindi Cricket Stadium to host the final from February 9 to 13, 2024.According to media department of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), after seven rounds of matches played in Karachi. WAPDA and SNGPL qualified for the final after topping the points table, with five and four wins respectively. Mohammad Sajid and Waleed Yaqub will be the on-field umpires while Nadeem Arshad will serve as the match referee.
National Women’s T20: Lahore to meet Karachi in final
Final to take place at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, winners to pocket 1 millionAbdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Lahore will face Karachi in the National Women’s T20 final at here Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (January 31, 2024), Nida Dar will lead Lahore Women while Fatima Sana Karachi Women players in the final.The player of the tournament will be awarded PKR50,000 and player of the match will receive PKR20,000. The tournament’s top performers – best batter, best bowler and best wicket-keeper – will get PKR 25,000, each.Lahore have remained unbeaten in the tournament, winning all 10 matches in the six-team tournament. Opening batter Sidra Amin, also the highest run-getter in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, is leading the batting charts with 494 runs from 10 outings, with one century and three half-centuries. She has scored runs at the strike-rate of 143.60.In the bowling unit, Lahore’s spin twins of Ghulam Fatima and Nashra Sundhu, occupy the top two spots. Leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima has 21 wickets to her name from 10 matches at an economy rate of 4.44. Left-arm spinner, Nashra, currently ranked number sixth in the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings, has 19 scalps to her name, with one five-fer and a four-fer in the tournament.Karachi have won six matches from 10 outings in the tournament. Former national captain and opening batter Javeria Khan, has hit two half-centuries for her side, scoring 352 runs from 10 matches. She holds an average of 44 and strike-rate of 110.34.In the bowling department, spinners have done wonders for the Karachi similar to Lahore’s spin bowling prowess. 20-year-old leg-spinner Syeda Aroob Shah has taken 14 wickets from 10 matches at an economy rate of 5.09. She has the support of another spinner, off-spin bowler Rameen Shamim, who has bagged 13 wickets from 10 matches at an economy rate of 4.77.
ILT20: Sharjah Warriors overcome Desert Vipers by 7 runs
Sports Bulletin ReportSharjah (UAE): Skipper Tom-Kohler Cadmore, through an aggressive 68 off 34 balls studded with eight sixes and two boundaries, guided his team to a hard fought seven-run win over Desert Vipers in the 13th match of the ILT20 season 2 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. His 101 runs partnership in 53 balls for the third wicket with Martin Guptill, who scored 39 off 32 balls with four fours and one six, gave his team a challenging total of 174 for 7 in 20 overs. The crowd of nearly 13,000 were in for a great treat when Vipers tried to chase the target through Alex Hales’s 61 off 40 balls with five sixes and three boundaries and Azam Khan’s fighting 35 off 22 balls. Together, the pair put 52 runs in 33 balls for the fifth wicket but failed to carry their team to victory. Earlier, Wanindu Hasaranga had put the brakes on Sharjah Warriors’ run flow with three wickets in the 16th over for figures of 3 for 30. Luke Wood too chipped in with three wickets for 33 runs, but all their efforts went in vain. So close was the fight that when Vipers needed 22 runs to win off the last 12 balls, Daniel Sams gave away only six runs in the penultimate over. Needing 16 runs off the last over, Muhammad Jawadullah held his nerves and bowled accurately giving away just eight runs to ensure Warriors’ victory.Brief scores: Sharjah Warriors beat Desert Vipers by 7 runs. Sharjah Warriors 174 for 7 in 20 overs (Martin Guptill 39, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 68, Joe Denly 22, Luke Wood 3 for 33, Wanindu Hasaranga 3 for 30) Desert Vipers 167 for 7 in 20 overs (Alex Hales 61, Azam Khan 35, Chris Woakes 2 for 26, Daniel Sams 2 for 29)Player of the Match: Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
Pakistan Blind Cricket Team named for the Tri-Nation Series
India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to participate in the fixture in the UAESports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) announced a 15-man national team for a Tri-Nation Series, which will be played at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket Academy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).According to an official of PBCC, besides Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka will take part in the tournament, which will get underway from February 21, 2024. PBCC revealed the team after the approval of Syed Sultan Shah Chairman of PBCC.Names of players: Zafar Iqbal, Riasat Khan, Mohammad Shahzaib, Fakhar Abbas, Mohammad Salman (B1), Nisar Ali (Captain), Badar Munir (Vice Captain), Shahzeb Haider, Moain Aslam, Babar Ali (B2), Matiullah, Mohammad Rashid, Mohammad Safdar, Kamran Akhter, Akmal Hayyat (B3).Team Officials: Mohammad Jameel (Head Coach), Tahir Mehmood Butt (Trainer).
ILT20: Dubai Capitals beat Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 5 wickets
Billings and Raza lead Dubai Capitals to a spectacular run-chase win over ADKRSports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Dubai Capitals’ Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza produced a clinical run chase to register a five-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ABKR) in the eighth match of the DP World ILT20 season 2 at the Dubai International Stadium. Chasing Knight Riders’ impressive total of 183 for 4 in 20 overs, Billings cracked an elegant 67 off 35 balls with nine boundaries and one six, well-backed by Sikandar Raza who scored 43 off 29 balls with five boundaries, to win the match with 23 balls to spare. The pair put on a 109 runs partnership off 59 balls for the fourth wicket.None expected Dubai Capitals to record such a comfortable win after Knight Riders’ impressive batting show lead by Sam Hain and Laurie Evans. They had put on a 131-run partnership in 78 balls for the fourth wicket. Hain scored 77 runs off 49 balls with eight boundaries and two sixes. Evans hit an unbeaten 67 off 41 balls with six boundaries and two sixes. Dubai Capitals were faced with the challenge of having to score at a run rate of 9.15. They also lost their skipper and star batsman David Warner to the second ball of the first over for a duck, trapped leg before by David Willey. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz too would have gone for a duck had Andre Russell not dropped an easy catch at long-on off Imad Wasim. Jake Fraser-McGurk then hit Wasim for two successive sixes and Willey for consecutive sixes. But Russell ended his innings forcing him to top edge a pull shot for a return catch for 41. Sunil Narine removed Gurbaz edging to wicketkeeper Gous for 21.Sam Billings and Raza took the score past the 100-run mark in 8.2 overs. By the half way mark, the pair made the target gettable with 64 runs needed to win. Billings reached his half century in 27 balls. He fell at the score of 67 caught by Evans at long-on off Narine. Raza followed seven runs short of his half century, caught and bowled to a leading edge when Capitals needed only four runs to win. Earlier, Capitals, who had lost their last match to Sharjah Warriors, won the toss and elected to bowl. Knight Riders, who were bowled out for just 95 runs in their previous match by MI Emirates, began on a shaky note through a double strike from Dushmantha Chameera. Andries Gous got clean bowled to Dushmantha Chameera for 4 while one-drop Michael Pepper edged to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 4. Hain went for his shots but opener Alishan Sharafu hit Roelof van der Merwe straight to Sam Billings at mid-wicket for 15 in the seventh over. Laurie Evans and Hain took the score to 75 for 3 by the half way mark. Jason Holder got smashed for 18 runs in in the 13th over with Evans hitting two boundaries and a six off successive balls. Evans reached his half century in 28 balls. Hain too reached his half century in 37 balls. They recorded their 100 runs partnership in 66 balls. Holder ended Hain’s knock with the second ball of the last over forcing him to hit straight to Sikandar Raza at extra over. Brief scores: Dubai Capitals bt Abu Dhabi Knight Riders by 5 wkts. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 183 for 4 in 20 overs (Sam Hain 77, Laurie Evans 67, Dushmantha Chameera 2 for 35) Dubai Capitals 185 for 5 in 16.1 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 21, Jake Fraser-McGurk 41, Sam Billings 67, Sikandar Raza 43, David Willey 2 for 44, Sunil Narine 2 for 23).
Gujranwala Blind Cricket T-20 Tournament: Lahore lift trophy
Sports Bulletin ReportGUJRANWALA: Lahore Blinds Cricket Team defeated Bahawalpur by 59 runs in the final of the Gujranwala Blinds’ Cricket T20 Tournament here at Jinnah Cricket Stadium Gujranwala on Thursday. Badar Munir got Man of the Match award.In the morning, Bahawalpur won the toss and asked Lahore to take guard. Lahore set a mammoth total of 229 runs on the board for the loss of 5 wickets in their stipulated 20 overs. Badar Munir once again shined with the bat, and he scored an unbeaten 163 runs off 74 balls featuring 6 sixes and 16 fours. Babar Ali took 2 wickets for Bahawalpur. In reply, Bahawalpur was restricted to 170 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted quota of 20 overs. Moain Aslam was their top scorer with 64 runs off 36 balls and Zafar Iqbal made 26 runs off 19 balls. Farhan Ullah took 2 wickets while Badar and Rizwan shared 1 wicket each.Syed Sultan Shah (Chairman Pakistan Blind Cricket Council), Col. Zia ul Islam (Project Secretary, DHA Gujranwala), Col. Ahmed Raza Sial, (Director Marketing DHA Gujranwala), Khalid Minhas (Owner, Minhas Industries Gujranwala), Bilal Anayat Butt (Chairman Red Crescent Gujranwala) were the guests of the occasion and distributed the prizes amongst the players.Player of the Tournament:B1: Mohammad Salman (Lahore)B2: Israr ul Hassan (Gujranwala)B3: Mohammad Akram (Gujranwala)Best Wicket Keeper: Faizan Khattak (Islamabad)
ILT20: MI Emirates post a massive win against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
Sports Bulletin ReportAbu Dhabi (UAE); Through an enthralling display of bowling prowess, MI Emirates skittled out Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for 95 runs in 14.1 overs to record a resounding nine-wicket win in the sixth match of the DP World ILT20 Season 2 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. Trent Boult (3 for 14) wiped away the cream of the Knight Riders’ batting backed by Akeal Hosein with two wickets for 21 runs. Knight Riders’ experienced allrounder Andre Russell stood amidst the ruins to hit a fighting 48 runs off 25 balls with four sixes and three boundaries. Muhammad Rohid Khan hastened the end of Knight Riders’ innings taking three wickets for 25 runs. MI Emirates began their chase with Mohammad Waseem and Kusal Perera striking comfortably. Waseem started by hitting Josh Little for two boundaries and a six off consecutive deliveries in the first over while Perera did the same against David Willey in the second over off successive deliveries. Together they put on 42 runs in 4.2 overs before Perera got out to Matiullah Khan caught by Sunil Narine at mid-on for 22.Skipper Nicholas Pooran, who joined Waseem, carried his team quickly to the target with an unbeaten 39 off 16 balls with five sixes and one boundary. Waseem remained unbeaten on 26 off 20 balls with two boundaries and a six. The MI Emirates won the match with 71 balls to spare. This big win lifted them to the top of the table too. The tale of Knight Riders’ disastrous batting began after Emirates won the toss and elected to bowl. Knight Riders lost half the side for 22 runs in 6.1 overs. UAE’s 21-year-old opener Alishan Sharafu had started off by scoring boundaries off Hosein and Boult, but fell in the third over hitting Hosein to Tim David at mid-off for 10. His opening partner Andries Gous, who had hit a match winning unbeaten 95 against Desert Vipers in his previous match, was joined by Michael Pepper. Boult removed Pepper (5) and Sam Hain (0), both of whom edged to wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran. He also went on to get Gous, caught by Dwayne Bravo at mid-on for 3. Hosein uprooted Laurie Evans off stump for 1. Imad Wasim and Andre Russell pushed the score to 47 before Wasim became the sixth wicket to fall, caught by Bravo at slip off Fazalhaq Farooqi for 7. In the 10th over, Ravi Bopara played Muhammad Rohid on to his wicket for a duck. Rohid also had David Willley caught by David at mid-on for a duck. At the half way mark, Abu Dhabi was tottering at 53 for 8. Skipper Narine, who joined Andre Russell, lasted just five balls to score one run before hitting high to Boult at mid-off. Russell though kept the scoreboard moving through some big hits. He smashed Rohid for two sixes in the 14th over and put on 36 runs in 16 balls with last man Josh Little.
ILT20: Sharjah Warriors beat Dubai Capitals by 5 wickets
Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Charles virtually carried his team on his shoulders with a 71 runs partnership in 51 balls for the fourth wicket with Lewis Gregory (16), and a 29-run stand with UAE’s Basil Hameed for the fifth wicket. Though Charles got out when Warriors needed 27 runs off 23 balls, Hameed, through an unbeaten 24, and Daniel Sams (16n.o), carried their team to the victory with seven balls to spare. Capitals’ medium pacer Dushmantha Chameera picked four out of the five wickets that fell for 28 runs, but his efforts went in vain. Capitals were put into bat, but they posted a fighting total of 170 for 7 in 20 overs. Sam Billings top scored with 52 runs off 32 balls with four sixes and one boundary while Sikandar Raza’s hit 48 runs off 23 balls with three boundaries and three sixes. Together they put on 81 runs for the fourth wicket off 44 balls after their team got off to a slow start scoring just 38 runs in the powerplay. In pursuit of their target of 171 runs, Warriors brought in opener Martin Guptill as the super- sub in place of Dilshan Madushanka, but he got run out for 2.Skipper and opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore then edged Dushmantha Chameera to wicketkeeper Gurbaz for 3. Niroshan Dickwella, who put on 25 runs in 12 balls with Charles, got out to Chameera for 7. By the end of the powerplay, Charles ensured that Warriors was strongly placed at 60 for 3 by scoring 42 off those runs. He raced to his half century in 26 balls. In the last ten overs, Warriors needed 79 runs. Chameera picked his third wicket clean bowling Gregory in the 13th over for 16. Hameed and Sams then carried their team to the target.
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