Cricket
Asian Games: Sri Lanka Women beat Pakistan Women by six wickets
Sports Bulletin ReportHangzhou (China): Sri Lanka women beat Pakistan women by six wickets in the second semifinal of the 19th Asian Games women’s cricket event at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field in Hangzhou on Sunday.Pakistan, who had won gold medal in the 2010 and 2014 editions, will now take on Bangladesh for the bronze medal game at the same venue tomorrow at 0900 local time.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and India will compete for the gold medal match scheduled tomorrow at 1400 local time.After being put into bat, Pakistan managed to score 75 for nine in 20 overs. Opening batter Shawaal Zulfiqar (16, 27b, 1x4), Muneeba Ali (13, 16b, 1x6) and Omaima Sohail (10, 17b, 1x6) were the only batters to enter double figures.For Sri Lanka, Udeshika Prabodhani bagged three wickets for 21, while Kavisha Dilhari took two wickets.In reply, Pakistan kept the Sri Lanka batters in check and dismissed four batters in process. Sri Lanka eventually achieved the target in the 17th over.Harshitha Samarawickrama (23, 41b, 1x4) top-scored for the winning team.For Pakistan, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal and Umm-e-Hani grabbed a wicket each.Scores in brief:Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by six wicketsPakistan 75-9, 20 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 16, Muneeba Ali 13, Omaima Sohail 10; Udeshika Prabodhani 3-21, Kavisha Dilhari 2-15)Sri Lanka 77-4, 16.3 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 23)
CRICKET - 22 Sep, 2023
Aamir Ali JanjuaDubai (UAE): The 13th edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will see the winners of the 10-team tournament earn US$4 million, along with the trophy that they will lift at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 19 November.The runners-up will receive US$2 million, while the losing semi-finalists will get $800,000 each from the total prize pot of US$10 million. The 48-match event will be played across 10 venues from 5 October. The biggest Cricket World Cup ever will see prizes for each league match won. Teams will play each other once in a round-robin format, with the top four making it to the semi-finals.The winners of each match in the group stage will receive US$40,000 and the six teams that do not qualify for the semi-finals will receive a payment of US$100,000.
CRICKET - 22 Sep, 2023
Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): 16 teams are set to compete for the silverware across 41 matches from 13 January to 4 February, comprising the 11 best-placed Full Member teams at the last edition and five teams who earned their World Cup spot through regional qualification pathways - Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Scotland and USA.Five historic venues located in Colombo will stage the 15th edition of the celebrated event; the P. Sara Oval, Colombo Cricket Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Singhalese Sports Club and the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, the arena chosen to host both Semi Finals on 30 January and 1 February, and the Final on 4 February.The action starts on 13 January with three fixtures taking place on opening day. Hosts Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, while 2022 finalists England play Scotland at Colombo Cricket Club and New Zealand face off against Nepal at the P. Sara Oval.In the group listings, holders India are joined by Bangladesh, Ireland and USA in Group A. Group B consists of England, South Africa, West Indies and Scotland. Group C features Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Namibia while Group D is made up of Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal.ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has a long-standing history of introducing global audiences to future stars of the sport.“Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Angelo Mathews are some of the names that made their entrance onto the world stage at this event, and we are certain to see this tradition continue as the drama unfolds across the 41 tournament fixtures.“We are thrilled to see the competition return to Sri Lanka for the first time since 2006, in what promises to be a festival of cricket with no shortage of entertainment, and we are proud to offer fans the chance to witness the action for free once more.”Tournament Director, Samantha Dodanwela said: “Sri Lanka Cricket is delighted to be welcoming this prestigious event back to Sri Lanka after 18 years. “Sri Lanka is renowned for its passionate, cricket-loving fans, and we are looking forward to giving them the opportunity to watch some of the most promising young cricketers in the world over 23 days of competition.The landmark event has been the springboard for some of the most recognisable stars of the global game. Through the history of the event, India are the most decorated with five U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup titles, Australia have won the event three times, Pakistan twice, while England, Bangladesh, South Africa and West Indies have each been crowned once.
CRICKET - 22 Sep, 2023
Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE (September 22, 2023): The Selection Committee of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headed by former captain of the national team Inzamam-ul-Haq named their 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which will be held in October and November in India.Fast bowler Naseem Shah has been replaced with Hasan Ali. He had suffered a shoulder injury during Asia Cup in a match against India on 11 September and was ruled out of the tournament. Following thorough medical examinations and consultations with leading medical experts, Naseem has been advised to undergo surgery. He is expected to recover in three to four months.Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Junior, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usama Mir.The selectors have also named three traveling reserves in wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris, mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and fast bowler Zaman Khan.Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said: “World Cup is the most important event in any cricketer’s life and I want to congratulate all the cricketers who have made it to the squad through their impressive performances. This team has performed wonderfully well over the last couple of years and that is why we have shown faith in the same bunch.“We were forced to make one change because of an unfortunate injury to Naseem Shah. We had a few injury scares in the recent Asia Cup, but I am glad to share that all the players are fully fit and are eager to perform for their country in the all-important tournament. I have received encouraging reports from our medical panel about Haris Rauf. He has started to (shadow) bowl at the National Cricket Academy and will be available for selection.“I have a firm belief that this squad can bring the World Cup trophy to Pakistan and make the whole nation proud with their incredible performances. It is time to get behind our team and provide them with the backing and support that they need.”Pakistan will play two warm-ups – against New Zealand on 29 September and Australia on 3 October – before their tournament opener against the Netherlands on 6 October. Babar Azam’s side enters the mega-event as the number one ranked side and enjoys the best win/loss ratio of 2.400 in this World Cup cycle for any side that has played the One-Day International format.Pakistan missed out on a semi-final spot in the 2019 iteration of the event because of a lower net run-rate to New Zealand, who ended up as runners-up. The team’s best performance came in the 1992 edition when they lifted the trophy at the MCG after defeating England. Pakistan featured in the final of the 1999 edition and reached semi-finals in 1979, 1983, 1987, and 2011.
CRICKET - 21 Sep, 2023
BIPIN DANIIn the recent Asia Cup match between India and Bangladesh in Sri Lanka, former India captain Virat Kohli acted as a "water boy" and his act left his fans amused. Virat was rested in the match, however, his presence on the field, though for a short period of time, carrying a can of bottles for the side, left his fans in splits. His presence as a waterboy on the sidelines was a testament to his commitment to the team's success and his willingness to support his fellow players.As the internet got glimpses of Kohli running on the field in a comical way with water bottles for his teammates, memes started pouring in. X (formerly Twitter) buzzed with posts terming Kohli as the ‘richest waterboy’ ever. Broadcasters were still focussing on Kohli, though Shardul Thakur had grabbed the wicket. This, however, was not the first instance when Kohli discharged this duty. Due to his shoulder injury, Kohli had to miss the 4th Test against Australia. But, the Test did witness a contribution from Kohli, that time, as a waterboy. Kohli was seen bringing drinks for his teammates on the field during the game.Playing for a charity game in 2005, Sachin Tendulkar did water-man duty for Asia XI team against the ICC World XI. Dhoni's humility had earned him respect from fans and pundits alike when there was no surprise to see him not once, but thrice. In 2012, he was seen carrying energy drinks for the Indian batsmen during the Tri-Series featuring Australia and Sri Lanka.The world's greatest batsman, the late Don Bradman was seen carrying drinks for his Australian mates who were toiling hard on the field during the 2nd Test match against England in 1928. And how cool was it that the then Prime Minister Scott Morrison came out with the drinks at the Prime Minister's XI game in Canberra four years ago?India's former umpire, Vinayak Kulkurni, however, was not surprised to see Kohli in this role."During my umpiring career, I too witnessed many senior players acting in this role as a 12th man", he says. "Now, the twelfth man concept is eliminated. The ICC has made it a rule to nominate five players as twelfth man and any one from this can go to the field to supply water or energy drinks to the team". "A term-Impact Player- is used for these five extra players". "Unlike in international matches where five players are combinedly known as an impact player, the BCCI has restricted these numbers to four players in domestic matches", the umpire added.
Dallas, Florida, New York confirmed as hosts of T20 World Cup 2024
Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed Dallas, Florida and New York as the three USA venues identified to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Grand Prairie in Dallas, Broward County in Florida and Nassau County in New York will be part of history as the event is staged in the USA for the first time.The ICC Board awarded the hosting of the event to the West Indies and the USA in November 2021. The venues were selected following extensive evaluation of several options.An agreement has been reached for the construction of a 34,000-seat modular stadium in Eisenhower Park, a purpose-built sports and events park in Nassau County, New York, on awarding of the required permit next month. The existing venues in Grand Prairie and Broward County will be increased in size by modular stadium solutions to expand seating, media and premium hospitality areas subject to final agreement.ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said: “We’re delighted to announce the three USA venues that will host part of the biggest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup ever staged, with 20 teams competing for the trophy. The USA is a strategically important market and these venues give us an excellent opportunity to make a statement in the world’s biggest sport market.“We explored a number of potential venue options in the country, and we were hugely encouraged by the enthusiasm the event generated amongst prospective hosts, reinforcing the growing awareness around cricket’s massive fanbase and its power to unite diverse communities.”We are very excited about the opportunity to use modular stadium technology to present world class cricket in a location that has not previously hosted an ICC global event giving USA cricket fans the chance to watch the world’s best on their doorstep. This technology has been used at previous ICC events to increase venue capacity and it’s routinely used in other major sports around the world. In the USA, it will give us the opportunity to increase the size of the venues in both Dallas and Florida and create what is going to be a stunning venue in New York.”Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said: “Nassau County is excited to partner with the ICC to host the Men’s T20 World Cup, one of the most popular sporting events in the world. With more than one billion fans worldwide, this event will attract fans from all around the world to Eisenhower Park.“Whether it be PGA events, record breaking concerts in our parks, or the annual Belmont Stakes, we are no stranger to hosting large scale events on the world stage. I look forward to bringing our many diverse communities together to watch some of the best cricket in the world, right here in Nassau County.”
"Siraj's donation to unsung heroes more important than his performance"
BIPIN DANIIndian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj's decision to dedicate his Player of the Match award in the Asia Cup final has won the hearts of many."I want to give this cash prize (USD 5000) to the groundsmen. They deserve it. If they were not around, this tournament would not have been successful", the 29-year-old Siraj had announced at the presentation on Sunday. "We are more happy with his act of donating rather than his match performance", Mohammed Mahboob Ahmed, the secretary of the Charminar Cricket Club says. Siraj first started playing with the tennis ball but learned playing with the leather ball at this club. "Siraj has come from a very poor family back-ground. His father was an auto driver in Hyderabad. Siraj knows how poor people struggle to survive and therefore he has decided to give his prize money to the laborers in Sri Lanka". Siraj ran the Sri Lankan players ragged in the final. He produced a devastating spell of swing and seam bowling returning figures of 6 for 21 in seven overs as Sri Lanka were skittled out for 50. He became the first Indian bowler to take four wickets in an over in men's internationals. "We are very happy with his performance but more so because he cared for the poor groundsmen", Mehboob added. Siraj has stayed very humble. After having bagged a big IPL deal, Mohammed Siraj still remembers the hardships his parents had to endure in his childhood. When he was bought at the IPL auctions, Siraj had then vowed that the first thing he would do with the money would be to buy a new house for his family. And he has fulfilled his promise. "In his childhood, Siraj used to get a lot of bashing from his mother because he didn’t like studying. He was not good at studies. His brother, Ismail, on the other hand, excelled at academics in IT. However, today Siraj’s mother must be proud of whatever his son has achieved so far". "Sadly, Siraj's father (Mohammed Ghaus) is not alive to see his journey. He passed away in 2020 when Siraj was in Australia in 2020 and he could not attend the funeral because of the Covid restrictions. He, however, has become stronger now and is bound to get more and more success", Mehboob added.
CRICKET - 17 Sep, 2023
Sports Bulletin ReportColombo (Sri Lanka): India outclassed hosts Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the Asia Cup 2023 final here on Sunday, as Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj singlehandedly outfoxed the Sri Lankan batting line-up to secure the title win for his side. By getting six wickets in the game, four of which came in one over, Siraj completely dominated the opposition, who had no answers for his menacing bowling.After winning the toss, Sri Lanka chose to bat first, hoping to gain the advantage in Colombo. However, after opener Kusal Perera fell to Jasprit Bumrah in the first over, the tone was set. Siraj, who had been playing second fiddle to Bumrah, came into the attack and completely turned the game in India’s favour after he got four wickets in one over; Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva.Sri Lanka failed to recover from the battering received in just the fourth over of the match. Kusal Mendis, the last hope for the home-side also fell to Siraj in the 12th over. The rest of the batting was cleaned up by Hardik Pandya, who got a three-wicket haul in turn. Sri Lanka were effectively bowled out for 50 runs in 15.2 overs.The Indian openers for this match, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill, were able to chase the asked score of 51 in just 6.1 overs, attaining their eighth Asia Cup title.Scores in brief:India win by 10 wicket (263 balls remaining)Sri Lanka: 50 all out in 15.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 17; Mohammed Siraj 6-21, Hardik Pandya 3-3)India: 51-0 in 6.1 overs (Shubman Gill 27*, Ishan Kishan 23*)Player of the match: Mohammed Siraj (India)Player of the tournament: Kuldeep Yadav (India)
CRICKET - 13 Sep, 2023
Sports Bulletin ReportColombo (Sri Lanka): Right-arm fast bowler Zaman Khan has replaced Naseem Shah in Pakistan’s 17-player squad for the ongoing Men’s ODI Asia Cup 2023. Zaman joined the team in the morning today and will train with the squad at the RPICS in the evening.Naseem injured his right shoulder during the match against India. He continues to be monitored by the team’s medical panel that is taking all necessary precautions keeping in mind the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.Haris Rauf, who did not bowl on the reserve day of Pakistan v India contest as a precautionary measure, continues to recover well after he felt discomfort in his right flank on the first day of the match.Team doctor Sohail Saleem: “These two fast bowlers are our assets and the team’s medical panel will provide them the best possible care ahead of the all-important World Cup.”Fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani will join the team on Thursday morning.
CRICKET - 10 Sep, 2023
Sports Bulletin ReportColombo, Sri Lanka (September 10, 2023): Pakistan Captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to field first against traditional foes India in Asia Cup 2023 cricket match at R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo Sri Lanka on Sunday.Pakistan are unchanged playing XIs, who had defeated Bangladesh by 7 wickets on September 6 at home Qaddafi Stadium Lahore. Rohit Sharma is leading India in the crucial fixture of the tournament, which has an extra day to reach on result.Pakistan (Playing XIs): Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen AfridiIndia (Playing XIs): Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumraj, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh KrishnaMatch Officials:Field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SriLanka)TV Umpire: Richard Illingworth (England)Reserve Umpire: Masudur Rahman (Bangladesh)Match Referee: David Boon (Australia).
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