Cricket
CRICKET - 30 Aug, 2023
Sports Bulletin ReportMultan (August 30, 2023): Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first in the day, and night inaugural fixture of the Asia Cricket Cup 2023 here at Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (August 30) a 50 overs per innings fixture. This will be a maiden contest between Pakistan and Nepal at the top level. Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve).Nepal Squad: Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mousom Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato, Arjun Saud
CRICKET - 29 Aug, 2023
Sports Bulletin ReportMULTAN: World number 1 One Day International (ODI) Pakistan will take on low-ranked Nepal in the day & night inaugural contest of the Asia Cricket Cup 2023 here at Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (August 30) a 50 overs per innings fixture. This will be a maiden contest between Pakistan and Nepal at the top level.The atmosphere in the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium promises to be electrifying for the Wednesday clash. Both teams will receive tremendous support from the cricket-loving Multan fans. The fans will be treated with an absorbing opening ceremony before the match, which begins at 1430 PKT time.Pakistan’s last outing in Multan in the format was in June last year and the home side enjoyed resounding success over the West Indies by thrashing them 3-0 in the three-match series. The team has played 10 ODIs here and won seven.Pakistan enter the Asia Cup with momentum on their side. They topped the ICC rankings for ODI teams on Saturday after securing a 3-0 whitewash over Afghanistan in Sri Lanka. This is the second instance of the team surmounting the chart since April. Pakistan also boast the best win/loss ratio of 2.750 with 22 wins in 31 matches since in this World Cup cycle.The team has enjoyed success across formats at home and away recently. In April-May, they levelled the T20 International series 2-2 and won the five-match ODI series 4-1 against New Zealand, whitewashed Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in the two-Test series in July and defeated Afghanistan 3-0 in ODIs in Sri Lanka this month.Pakistan will fly to Sri Lanka on 31 August to play India in the second Group-A match on 2 September at Kandy. The venue will also host the third and final match of the group between India and Nepal on 4 September.Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi and Usama Mir. Traveling reserve: Tayyab Tahir
IBSA Games 2023: Pakistan thrash arch-rival India by 5 wickets in Final
Sports Bulletin ReportBirmingham (UK): Pakistan thrashed arch-rival India by 5 wickets in the final of the IBSA Games 2023 to clinch the gold medal for the country at the Edgbaston Cricket Stadium Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK) on Saturday. The final clash was set alight as India won the toss and opted to bat first under the afternoon sun. Displaying their batting prowess, India managed to amass a formidable total of 184 runs for the loss of 3 wickets within the stipulated 20 overs. Durga Tompaki led the charge with an impressive knock of 76 runs off 57 balls, complemented by Sunil Ramesh's 48 runs off 29 balls. Pakistan's bowlers Muhammad Salman and Matiullah each secured a crucial wicket.Undeterred by the challenge, Pakistan embarked on their pursuit of the target with flair and determination. Exhibiting exceptional teamwork, Pakistan's response was swift and calculated, achieving victory in just 14.1 overs with 8 wickets to spare. The unbeaten innings of Muhammad Salman, who scored 48 runs off 25 balls, coupled with Badar Munir's explosive 41 runs off a mere 16 balls, featuring 7 fours and 1 six, propelled Pakistan towards an emphatic win.
CRICKET - 26 Aug, 2023
Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Zaka Ashraf, Chairman of the PCB Management Committee, extends his heartiest congratulations to the Pakistan men’s cricket team on their remarkable achievement of securing the No. 1 ranking in the ICC ODI Team Rankings. This outstanding feat comes on the heels of a sensational 3-0 series victory against Afghanistan, showcasing Pakistan's exceptional skill, determination, and unwavering commitment to the sport.Zaka Ashraf said: “This achievement reflects the hard work, dedication, and unity exhibited by our talented players and their unwavering focus on excellence. It is a proud moment for all of us as Pakistan cricket team reclaim the top spot in the ODI rankings.“I also want to congratulate and laud the efforts of the entire squad, coaching staff, and support personnel for their collective commitment to raising the flag of Pakistan high in the world of cricket.“The passion and enthusiasm of our fans have been instrumental in motivating our players to push their limits and achieve extraordinary feats. Achieving the top spot is a great example of our team reciprocating the love shown by the fans all across the world.“We have Asia Cup and World Cup coming in the future, so we are determined to maintain this position and continue to excel across all formats of the game. Our journey has just begun, and I am confident that with the collective efforts of our players, management, and fans, Pakistan cricket will continue to scale new heights and bring more glory to our beloved nation.”
Pakistan beat England by 6 Wickets in IBSA World Blind Games Cricket
Sports Bulletin ReportBirmingham (UK): Pakistan outclassed hosts England by 6 Wickets in IBSA World Blind Games Cricket match on Thursday in Birmingham United Kingdom (UK).In the morning, England won the toss and decided to bat first. Pakistan's bowlers displayed exceptional skills, preventing the English batsmen from finding their rhythm and accumulating runs freely. England's batting lineup was dismantled, leading to their dismissal at a total of 103 runs in 18 overs. Among the top contributors, Luke Sugg managed 25 runs while Matt Dean secured 13 runs. Notably, Shahzaib Haider stood out as the standout bowler, clinching four (4) wickets, supported by Muhammad Shahzeb and Mohsin Khan with two wickets and one wicket respectively.In response, Pakistan efficiently achieved the required target within 9.4 overs, losing four wickets along the way. Nisar Ali shone as the top scorer with an impressive 35 runs off 17 balls, while Matiullah contributed 22 runs. Ed Hossell, Jones, and Ahmed each managed to claim a wicket a piece for the English side.The outcome resulted in Pakistan's triumph by six wickets. This victory marked Pakistan's success in all four league games, positioning them at the forefront of the points table and guaranteeing their spot in the Final. The upcoming eliminator match is anticipated to be between the second-ranked India and the third-ranked team, the latter to be determined following the outcome of the Australia-Bangladesh match. The grand final is scheduled to take place at the prestigious Edgbaston Cricket Stadium on Saturday, August 26th, promising an exciting culmination to the tournament.
Former Test cricketer, Henry Olonga apologizes to Heath Streak
BIPIN DANIFormer Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga was believed to be the first one to have unintentionally spreaded the death news of Heath Streak, However, the 48-year-old has denied being instrumental in the fiasco and has named the middle order batter Sean Williams for this confusion. Olonga also shared the screenshot of the Whatsapp chats between Sean Williams and Pommie Mbangwa, where the death news first surfaced. Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Australia, where Olonga resides, he said, "My tweet got more traction. I issued my various retractions and apologies to Heath". Explaining the sequence of the confusion, he says, "It is complicated and although I could share some personal intimate correspondence between the Streaks, I shall limit it to what is simple. We all heard it is imminent. So I know how grave things are"."I was even asked along with others touched by his life to provide a eulogy so that Heath can see them while he is here, which I did. Then someone else published on Twitter that it had actually happened. Gave a RIP tribute basically. Someone currently who is playing in the CPL and who is very close to Heath. He then deleted the tweet many hours later. A Facebook page announced it. Zimbabwean and Rhodesian sportsmen I think. I did check with two other former players who confirmed it. We were all obviously mistaken"."I did ask the family but got no response from them or another former teammate. It was late at night as I am in Aus. By then a few others had posted about it so I then did a tribute with pictures and the rest as they say is history. I had a somewhat higher traction than the others. Mid afternoon Streaky replies to my enquiry of his well being and gets in touch to correct the story. I amend all my posts and here we are. It has been a sad day as I really did think we lost him so try processing that with what we have now. Of course no malice intended and it grew a life of its own"."Heath and I are on good terms. It just went a little crazy. Of course I have apologised", Olonga concluded.
CRICKET - 24 Aug, 2023
Qasim Akram to lead Green Shirts in a regional mini-Olympic international fixture 2023Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today (Thursday) confirms that all-rounder Qasim Akram will lead Pakistan Shaheens in the 19th Asian Games, set to take place in Hangzhou, China. The event will be played in a T20 format from 28 September to 7 October.20-year-old Qasim, has till date featured in 20 first-class matches and 40 T20 matches and also captained Pakistan U19 in the ICC U19 World Cup in 2022. In the 15-member squad, there are eight players who have already represented the Pakistan men’s team at the international level.The players who have represented Pakistan at the international level are Aamir Jamal (2 T20Is), Arshad Iqbal (1 T20I), Asif Ali (21 ODIs, 55 T20Is), Haider Ali (2 ODIs, 33 T20Is), Khushdil Shah (10 ODIs, 24 T20Is), Mohammad Hasnain (9 ODIs, 27 T20Is), Shahnawaz Dahani (2 ODIs, 11 T20Is) and Usman Qadir (1 ODI, 23 T20Is).Also, eight players in the 15-member squad, Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani and Sufiyan Muqeem have been associated with the Shaheens side recently. Since May 2023, Pakistan Shaheens have toured Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Australia.In Zimbabwe, Shaheens whitewashed Zimbabwe A in the two four-dayers, but lost 4-2 in the 50-over matches to Zimbabwe Select. Shaheens later won the ACC Men’s Emerging Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in July, beating India A by 108 runs in the final. However, they finished as runners-up in the six-team Top End T20 Series in Darwin, Australia earlier this month.As per the tournament’s rule, Shaheens will feature in the event from the quarter-finals stage scheduled to take place on 3 and 4 October. The semi-finals will be played on 6 October, while the final will take place on 7 October. The match for Bronze medal will also take place on Saturday, 7 October.Pakistan men’s team won a bronze medal in their maiden and only appearance in the Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China, in 2010. Pakistan Shaheens squad: Qasim Akram (captain), Omair Bin Yousuf (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Akhlaq (wk), Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman QadirPlayer Support Personnel: Shahid Aslam (head coach-cum-manager), Umar Rasheed (bowling coach), Hanif Malik (batting and fielding coach) and Hafiz Naeem ul Rasool (physiotherapist)
Green Shirts teach cricket to Afghanistan, claim 142 runs win in ODI
Pacers ruin Afghan batting line-up, Haris Rauf snares 5 batters, Shaheen 2Sports Bulletin ReportHambantota (Sri Lanka): An aggressive bowling spell by right-arm pacer Haris Rauf (5 for 18) destroyed Afghan batters, who were chasing merely 202 runs in 50 overs to create new history, in the first One Day International fixture of a three-match tie here at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka on Tuesday.Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bat first, as Green Shirts as Fakhar Zaman departed in the first over. Afghanistan bowlers kept it tight as Pakistan continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Iftikhar Ahmed's gritty innings and Shadab Khan's crucial contribution lifted Pakistan's total, guiding them to a competitive score of 201 all out in 47.1 overs.Imam-ul-Haq's composed knock of 61 runs anchored the innings, while Iftikhar Ahmed's 30 runs and Shadab Khan's enterprising 39 were pivotal in setting up a defendable target. The Afghan bowlers, led by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi, showcased their prowess to ensure Pakistan didn't run away with a bigger total. Some late-order resilience exhibited by Naseem Shah helped Pakistan reach the 200-run mark.Afghanistan's chase faltered right from the beginning as they lost early wickets under the pressure of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah's fiery pace. Rahmanullah Gurbaz showed some resistance with 18 runs, but Afghanistan's middle-order struggled to find stability. Haris Rauf's five-wicket haul completely dismantled Afghanistan's batting lineup.Azmatullah Omarzai's valiant 16, despite retiring hurt, was the only silver lining for Afghanistan. Their innings concluded at a mere 59 runs in 19.2 overs, giving Pakistan an emphatic 142-run victory.Haris Rauf, with his outstanding figures of 5 wickets for 18 runs, was undoubtedly the star of the match, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.The win puts Pakistan ahead in the three-match series, leading Afghanistan 1-0. Both teams will meet again for the second ODI at the same venue on 24 August.Scores in Brief:Pakistan: 201 all out in 47.1 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 61, Shadab Khan 39, Iftikhar Ahmed 30; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3-33, Mohammad Nabi 2-34)Afghanistan: 59 all out in 19.2 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 18, Azmatullah Omarzai 16 not out; Haris Rauf 5-18, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-9, Naseem Shah 1-12)Player of the Match: Haris Rauf (Pakistan)
World Blind and International Blind Sports explore exciting Sports Partnership
Sports Bulletin ReportBirmingham (UK): In a significant step towards fostering sports inclusion and expanding opportunities for visually impaired athletes, a momentous meeting took place between Syed Sultan Shah, President of World Blind Cricket Ltd, and Ilgar Rahimov, President of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA). The meeting was centered on the exploration of a potential sports partnership and the inclusion of cricket in future IBSA games.Both leaders engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the power of sports to break down the barriers and promote inclusivity. They expressed their shared commitment to creating an environment where visually impaired athletes can thrive on the global stage.Syed Sultan Shah, President of World Blind Cricket Ltd, sees this meeting as a promising step towards opening up new avenues for blind cricket. By collaborating with IBSA, we can further develop and promote the Blind Cricket."Ilgar Rahimov, President of IBSA was happy about the possibility of including blind cricket in future IBSA games and will discuss this matter in IBSA Board meeting. Our discussions with World Blind Cricket Ltd align with our vision of expanding the horizons of blind sports as large number of athletes participate and their passion make these sports an interesting one. Both organizations recognized the need to work closely and collaborative efforts will be made to develop the necessary frameworks to facilitate the integration of blind cricket into the broader spectrum of IBSA sports. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both Syed Sultan Shah and Ilgar Rahimov expressing their eagerness to take the discussions forward. Brief intro about both Organizations: About World Blind Cricket Ltd: World Blind Cricket Ltd is a global governing body for Blind Cricket. Committed to promoting the sport at all levels, it aims to provide opportunities for visually impaired individuals to participate in cricket and showcase their talents on the international stage.About IBSA: The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) is a dynamic organization that oversees various sports for blind and partially sighted athletes. IBSA is dedicated to promoting and developing sports that empower visually impaired individuals, fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities.
Cricket News: Scrutiny of Islamabad Cricket Region’s clubs completes
Abdul Ghaffar KhanISLAMABAD: The scrutiny of the Islamabad Region’s clubs was conducted under the supervision of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Arbab Altaf here, as clubs participated in the process enthusiastically.According to the details, Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board last week, asked to re-scrutiny after the completion of the time according to the Pakistan Cricket Board 2014 rules. Scrutiny of zones has been completed. Pakistan Cricket Board Scrutiny Committee Chairman Babar Altaf supervised it in a very friendly atmosphere. Scrutiny under the supervision of the chairman Aabar Altaf declared clean and transparent by all club members of Islamabad regions and paid tribute to the PCB for providing full opportunities to all the club owners to present all the records of their clubs.
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