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CRICKET - Int News 08 Nov, 2024

West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph banned for 2 matches:
Importance of communication in cricket is crucial for maintaining the Integrity: BucknorBIPIN DANIIn the world of cricket, effective communication between players and umpires is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the game. Former ICC West Indies umpire Steve Bucknor recently shared exclusively his thoughts on a recent incident involving Alzarri Joseph, who left the field in anger despite having bowled a wicket-maiden.The primary source of discomfort for the West Indies early in the 3rd ODI match against England at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Wednesday stemmed from an unusual on-field confrontation between Alzarri Joseph and his captain, Shai Hope. The fast bowler appeared dissatisfied with the field arrangement for England’s No. 3, Cox. From the top of his run-up, Joseph was visibly expressing his displeasure to his captain multiple times, and he channeled his frustration towards the batter. Cox barely managed to react to a 148kph/92mph bouncer that grazed his glove on its way to the keeper. Joseph, however, did not celebrate and walked off at the end of the over, temporarily leaving the West Indies with just 10 players on the field.Bucknor emphasized the importance of informing the umpire when a fielder leaves the field for any reason. "A match can continue with ten players. However, if any fielder has to leave the field (for any reasons, injury or otherwise), he must inform the umpire. In case he has not informed the umpire, the word should come from the captain," he said over telephone from New York.In the recent incident, Bucknor noted that the hurried nature of the situation might have prevented the fielder from informing the on-field umpires. "I am not sure but in the above situation, it is the duty of the captain to have informed the umpire as soon as the fielder left the field," he added.Bucknor also highlighted the role of team management in such situations. "If he has not, it will be up to the team management to take action on the captain or fielder or on both," he stated. He further suggested that the match referee might report the incident to the ICC.Bucknor, 78, continues to contribute to the sport, umpiring on weekends in New York and helping school children develop their cricket skills.Bucknor's insights serve as a reminder of the importance of clear communication and respect for the rules of the game. His continued dedication to nurturing young talent also highlights his commitment to the future of cricket.No substitute allowed: According to India's former umpire, Vinayak Kulkurni, who had stood in two ODI games and lLater became an umpire's coach for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), no substitute fielder can be granted for this reason. "As I read, the argument was between Captain and Player and the player left. The captain may have informed the umpire/s. As far as Umpires are concerned for such reasons no substitute will be permitted and will report the matter to the match referee".Latest report suggests that the bowler has publicly apologized and has been suspended by his cricket board (CWI) and not the ICC. There have been instances of on field disagreements between players and or captains over tactical decisions, but Alzarri's dramatic exit during the match certainly stands out due to the intensity of the exchange and his decision to leave the field despite having bowled. 

CRICKET - Int News 08 Nov, 2024

Pakistan crush Australia by 9 wickets to square ODI Series 1-1
Haris Rauf (5 for 29), Saim Ayub (84 runs) guide Green Shirts to historical victory against AustraliaSports Bulletin ReportAdelaide (Australia):  Haris Rauf’s second five wicket-haul and half-centuries by Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique led Pakistan to a nine-wicket win over Australia in the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. The win also leveled the three-match ODI series 1-1, with the series decider to be played at the Perth Stadium in Perth on 10 November.Chasing 164 to win, Pakistan opening pair of Abdullah and Saim got off to a flying start as they knitted a 137-run partnership for the first wicket. Saim, playing his second ODI, scored his maiden half-century, scoring a 71-ball 82, which included five fours and six sixes. The departure of Saim in the 21st over brought Babar Azam to the crease and the pair of Abdullah and Babar added an unbroken 32 runs for the second wicket take Pakistan over the line. Abdullah’s undefeated innings of 64 off 69 balls, included four fours and three sixes and it was his fifth half-century in this formatEarlier, after being put into bat, the visiting fast bowlers never allowed the hosts to score freely as the wickets continued to fall. Right-arm pacer Haris, playing his 39th ODI, was the most successful bowler, bagging five wickets for 29 runs in eight overs. His fellow fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took two wickets in the first ODI, grabbed three wickets for 26 in eight overs. Captain Mohammad Rizwan grabbed six catches behind the stumps, missing out on a record seven catches.For Australia, former captain Steven Smith, coming to bat at number three scored 35 off 48 balls, which included five fours and a six.Scores in brief:Pakistan beat Australia by nine wicketsAustralia 163 all out, 35 overs (Steven Smith 35; Haris Rauf 5-29, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-26)Pakistan 169-1, 26.3 overs (Saim Ayub 82, Abdullah Shafique 64 not out)Player of the match – Haris Rauf

CRICKET - Women 08 Nov, 2024

England names Women cricket squads for South Africa Trip
Sports Bulletin ReportLondon (UK): England Women have named their squads for the forthcoming tour to South Africa. Heather Knight’s side will contest three IT20s, three ODIs and a four-day Test match against the Proteas.All-rounder Paige Scholfield made her senior international debut in the September bilateral series in Ireland and she is included in the T20 squad. Fast bowler Lauren Filer is named in all three squads.Freya Kemp is selected in a Test squad for the first time while batter Maia Bouchier could also earn her maiden Test cap. The four-day Test match in Bloemfontein will be the first time South Africa has hosted a women’s Test match since 2002.All selected players, minus those currently competing in the Women’s Big Bash League, have been training at Loughborough in the build-up to the series before the IT20 group fly to South Africa on 16 November. Meanwhile, those in the ODI and Test squads arrive in South Africa on 27 November.All-rounder Danielle Gibson misses out on the squad following an operation on her left knee meniscus injury sustained during the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match against West Indies.England Women IT20 squad: Heather Knight (captain), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Paige Scholfield, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-HodgeEngland Women ODI squad: Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-HodgeEngland Women Test match squad: Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-HodgeIT20 series:Sunday, 24 November: South Africa vs England – Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium, East LondonWednesday, 27 November: South Africa vs England – Willowmoore Park, BenoniSaturday, 30 November: South Africa vs England – SuperSport Park, CenturionODI series:Wednesday, 4 December: South Africa vs England – Kimberley Oval, KimberleySunday, 8 December: South Africa vs England – Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, DurbanWednesday, 11 December: South Africa vs England – JB Marks Oval, PotchefstroomTest match: 15-18 December: South Africa v England - Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein

CRICKET - Int News 03 Nov, 2024

Pakistan vs Australia: First One Day International on November 4 at MCG
Mohammad Rizwan to become 31st ODI Captain, Mohammad Irfan Khan and Saim Ayub to make debutMohammad IsmailMelbourne (Australia): Pakistan will face hosts Australia in the first One Day International of three-match rubber here at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on November 4, 2024 (Monday).Both sides last met in the 50-over format during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on October 20 where Australia defeated Pakistan by 62 runs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The last time both sides featured in a bilateral ODI series was in March/April 2022, when Australia visited Pakistan and the hosts won the series 2-1.Pakistan have also announced their playing XI for the first ODI, with Mohammad Irfan Khan and Saim Ayub making their debut. 21-year-old Irfan has already featured in three T20Is for Pakistan, while he has played 24 List-A matches, scoring one century and three half-centuries. Left-handed opening batter Saim has been a part of six Tests and 23 T20Is for Pakistan and has featured in 35 List-A matches accumulating 1,472 runs with the help of four centuries and seven half-centuries.Mohammad Rizwan said: “It is an honour to lead the Pakistan team and we are ready to take on Australia in their own backyard. We all know Australia are a very good side, and world champions, but we look forward to competing hard as we have a number of young and exciting players in our squad and it is their chance to grab the opportunities coming their way. We have had productive training sessions here in Melbourne since our arrival and with the support of Almighty, we look forward to produce positive results in the series. We are scheduled to play a good number of ODIs before the next year’s ICC Champions Trophy back in Pakistan. The forthcoming series beginning with Australia, then Zimbabwe, South Africa and the home Tri-nation tournament will help us assemble a right combination going into the mega event at home. We are expecting fans to come in good number to support us in this series, as they have been a huge support for the team wherever we have played in Australia.”Pat Cummins, Australia’s ODI captain: It’s always great to have such high intensity game which makes the start of summer and it’s a great opportunity for youngsters to get going. Pakistan are quite a decent side and they have players who have scored big runs. We have played against them in recent years, so I think it’s always a fairly even match. There is going to be good crowd tomorrow at the MCG as we are playing against Pakistan.”Playing XI for first ODI (in batting order): Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (captain/wicket-keeper), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Mohammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad HasnainSchedule of matches:4 Nov – 1st ODI vs Australia; Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (2.30pm local time start)8 Nov – 2nd ODI vs Australia; Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (2pm local time start)10Nov – 3rd ODI vs Australia; Perth Stadium, Perth (11.30am local time start)14 Nov – 1st T20I vs Australia; Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane (6pm local time start)16 Nov – 2nd T20I vs Australia; Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (7pm local time start)18 Nov – 3rd T20I vs Australia; Bellerive Oval, Hobart (7pm local time start).

CRICKET - Blinds 01 Nov, 2024

Pakistan to meet South Africa in opening match Blind Cricket T20 World Cup on November 23.
Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take on South Africa in the opening fixture of the 4th edition of the Blind Cricket T20 World Cup in Ghani Institute of Cricket DHA Lahore on November 23.The final will be played on December 3, 2024 at Multan Cricket Stadium. World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) on Friday announced the schedule, as the 7 nations will fight for top honour during the 11-day fixture. The matches will be played in two cities Lahore and Multan. Australia and England teams are not participating in the prestigious international showpiece of blinds’ cricket.According to the President World Blind Cricket Ltd, Syed Sultan Shah, the mega event will feature blind cricket teams of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, Nepal and Afghanistan. The Indian team will be defending their title in the extravaganza. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan players were denied visa by India government for the previous edition and event was held without Green Shirts.The opening match of the tournament will be played between South Africa and hosts Pakistan on November 23 at the Ghani Institute of Cricket Ground, DHA, Lahore while traditional rivals, India and Pakistan, will face each other on November 25.The arrival of all participating foreign teams will be completed by November 21 and the opening ceremony of the World Cup will be held on November 22 in Lahore.The iconic city of Lahore will host 15 matches of the event, including the opening match, while the historical city of Multan will host 9 matches, including both semifinals and final.While talking to this reporter, president WBCC Syed Sultan Shah said that England and Australia would not participate in the T20 World Cup 2024. “They had already scheduled bilateral series. Secondly, their security demands were high which was not possible to manage. Both teams bring their own security personals and they were asking for a big amount, “he added.  

CRICKET - Blinds 28 Oct, 2024

PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024: Sindh lift title
Sindh overcome Punjab by 81 runs, Badard Munir gets man of the match awardRasheed AhmedBAHAWALPUR: Sindh thrashed Punjab by 81 runs in the final of the 8th edition of PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024 here at Dring Stadium on Monday. Sindh batter Badar Munir was declared the best player of the match. Punjab, winning the toss, opted to bowl first, a decision that quickly became a challenging one as Sindh took to the crease. The outstanding opening partnership of Badar Munir and Mohammad Safdar set the stage for an explosive innings. Badar Munir showcased his exceptional batting skills, scoring a sensational century of 116 runs off just 62 balls, while Safdar supported with a solid 74 runs off 51 balls. Their partnership of 205 runs not only laid a strong foundation but also put Punjab in a nearly insurmountable position, leaving them to chase a formidable total of 220 runs. Mati Ullah was the standout bowler for Punjab, managing to secure 2 wickets.When Punjab began their chase, they faced a difficult battle against the disciplined Sindh bowling attack. They struggled to find their footing and eventually crumbled under pressure, bowled out for just 138 runs in 16.5 overs. Haroon Khan was the only player to show resilience, scoring 40 runs off 29 balls, while Nisar Ali contributed a modest 18 runs off 19 balls. Badar Munir's influence extended beyond his batting, as he picked up 3 crucial wickets, helping to dismantle the Punjab lineup. Babar Ali and Numan also contributed with the ball, claiming 2 and 1 wickets respectively.Tournament’s best awards:Mohammad Idrees Saleem (B1 Category)Badar Munir (B2 Category)Mati Ullah (B3 Category)Nisar Ali (Best Wicket Keeper) Mati Ullah (B3 Category)Nisar Ali (Best Wicket Keeper)Dignitaries Present:Ahmer Ali, Additional Deputy Commissioner, (Finance) Bahawalpur.Syed Sultan Shah, President World Blind Cricket Ltd & Chairman PBCC.Syed Mohammad Salman Tariq Bokhari, Director Marketing PBCC.Anwar, Director Finance PBCC.Abdul Razzaq, Director Information & Coordination PBCC.Fawad Anwar, District Sports officer, Bahawalpur.Usman Saeed, President Bahawalpur Cricket Club of the Blind

CRICKET - Int News 27 Oct, 2024

Mohammad Rizwan confirmed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain
Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed Pakistan’s white-ball captain, while Salman Ali Agha has been named vice-captain as the selectors announced Pakistan’s squads for the ODI and T20I tours of Australia and Zimbabwe from 4 November to 5 December. Salman will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested under a workload management plan.The 32-year-old Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is to date, scoring 5,401 runs with four centuries and accounting for 143 dismissals behind the stumps. As he leads the team in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on 4 November, Rizwan will become Pakistan’s 31st captain. For the first T20I in Brisbane on 14 November, he will be the 12th to captain Pakistan in the format.Mohammad Rizwan siad: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Representing Pakistan on the global stage is the greatest privilege and to now be entrusted with leading such a talented and exciting group of players is a tremendous honour. Joining the ranks of some of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains truly is the icing on the cake.I am committed to giving my absolute best in this role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and my immensely talented teammates. Together, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters. Pakistan cricket holds immense potential across all formats and I am confident that, with the support of God Almighty, we will build on our recent success against England to achieve even greater heights in what promises to be a challenging and busy season of white-ball cricket.”PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi siad: “I want to extend my congratulations to Mohammad Rizwan on his appointment as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. I am confident that Rizwan’s leadership qualities, underpinned by his deep commitment and passion for the game, will help shape this talented team into a consistently successful unit. Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers and colleagues through his dedication and positive attitude, and I have no doubt that these qualities, combined with his game knowledge and performance, will inspire the next generation of Pakistan cricketers. The PCB has always been fully committed to supporting our players and staff, and we will continue to stand by Rizwan as he takes on this important role. We are optimistic that under his leadership, Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team will once again become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.”Pakistan squads for Australia and Zimbabwe tours: ODI SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah AfridiT20I SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman KhanODI SQUAD FOR ZIMBABWE: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab TahirT20I SQUAD FOR ZIMBABWE: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.

CRICKET - Blinds 27 Oct, 2024

Blind Cricket T-20: Punjab and Sindh qualify for final
Rasheed AhmedBahawalpur (October 27, 2024): Punjab and Sindh have qualified for the final of PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024 after winning their respective semifinals at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur on Sunday. The final will be played on Monday at the same venue.Punjab beat Balochistan by 23 runs: In the morning match, Balochistan set a challenging target after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Despite an early setback with the loss of two quick wickets, Talha Iqbal and Moain Aslam played a pivotal role in stabilizing the innings. Their partnership of 87 runs for the third wicket proved crucial, allowing Balochistan to recover from the early turmoil. Talha Iqbal showcased an impressive performance, scoring a remarkable century with a blistering 103 runs off just 64 balls. Moain Aslam also made a valuable contribution with a quick 39 runs off 26 balls. Balochistan finished their innings with a solid total of 195 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs.In reply, Punjab encountered a difficult chase, managing to score 172 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Haroon Khan emerged as the top performer for Punjab, remaining unbeaten with 65 runs off 50 balls. Zafar provided support with a steady 30 runs off 30 balls. Despite their efforts, Punjab fell short of the target. Talha Iqbal, who excelled with the bat, also magic with the ball, claiming 2 wickets to help secure Balochistan's victory. Talha Iqbal got man of the match award.Sindh beat KPK by 6 wickets: In the last league match between Sindh and KPK, Sindh emerged victorious after a solid performance in both bowling and batting departments.KPK, batting first, posted a modest total of 175 runs for 6 wickets in their 20 overs. The highlight of their innings was Anees Javed, who scored an impressive 63 runs off 38 balls. Umar Draz contributed with a steady 27 runs off 26 balls. On the bowling side for Sindh, Muhammad Numan was particularly effective, taking 3 wickets, while Idrees and Badar contributed with 2 and 1 wicket respectively.In response, Sindh chased down the target comfortably, finishing their innings with 176 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in just 16.5 overs. Badar Munir was the star of the match, smashing a remarkable unbeaten 97 runs off only 49 balls, showcasing his batting prowess. Idrees Saleem supported the innings with a crucial 24 runs off 29 balls, helping to guide Sindh to a convincing 6-wicket victory. Badar got man of the match award.

CRICKET - Int News 25 Oct, 2024

Pindi Test Day-2: Pakistan level score at tea break, Saud hits ton
Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Pakistan leveled the score 267 at the tea break against English after losing 8 batters in the 3rd Test match of the series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. Saud Shakeel score hundred to save the home side from a big damage.On Friday, duo of unbeaten left-handed batters, captain Shan Masood (16), and Saud Shakeel (16) resumed Pakistan’s first innings at 73 for 3 in 23 overs.England Batting (First innings) 267 all out in 68.2 oversZak Crawley (c Saim Ayub b Noman Ali) 29 runs (balls 43, 4x3, 6x0)Ben Duckett (lbw b Noman Ali) 52 runs (balls 84, 4x4, 6x1)Ollie Pope (lbw b Sajid Khan) 3 runs (balls 14, 4x0, 6x0)Joe Root (lbw b Sajid Khan) 5 runs (balls 6, 4x0, 6x0)Harry Brook (b Sajid Khan 5 runs (balls 14, 4x0, 6x0)Ben Stokes (c Agha Salman b Sajid Khan) 12 runs (balls 22, 4x1, 6x0)Jamie Smith (c Mohammad Rizwan b Zahid Mahmood) 89 runs (balls 119, 4x5, 6x6)Gus Atkinson (c & b Noman Ali) 39 runs (balls 71, 4x5, 6x0)Rehan Ahmed (b Sajid Khan) 9 runs (balls 14, 4x1, 6x0)Jack Leach (st Mohammad Rizwan b Sajid Khan) 16 runs (balls 21, 4x0, 6x0)Shoaib Bashir (not out) 1 run (balls 5, 4x0, 6x0)Pakistan Bowling: Sajid Khan (6 for 128), Noman Ali (3 for 88), Zahid Mehmood (1 for 44)Pakistan Batting (First Innings):Abdullah Shafique ( lbw b Shoaib Bashir) 14 runs (balls 27, 4x1, 6x0)Saim Ayub (c Root b Leach 19) 36 runs (balls 45, 4x1, 6x0)Shan Masood (c Pope b Shoaib Bashir) 26 runs (4x0, 6x0)Kamran Ghulam (b Atkinson) 3 runs (balls 9, 4x0, 6x0)Saud Shakeel (not out) 106 runs (balls 190, 4x4, 6x0)Mohammad Rizwan( lbw b Rehan Ahmed) 25 runs (balls 46, 4x1, 6x1)Salman Agha (lbw b Rehan Ahmed) 1 run (balls 9, 4x0, 6x0)Aamer Jamal (b Rehan Ahmed) 14 runs (balls 28, 4x1, 6x0)Noman Ali (LBW Shoaib Bashir) 45 runs (balls 84, 4x2, 6x1)Sajid Khan (not out)England Bowling: Jack Leach (1 for 68), Gus Atkinson (1 for 14), Shoaib Bashir (3 for 95), Rehan Ahmed (3 for 25)Match Officials:Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh)TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)Reserve Umpire: Faisal Afridi (Pakistan)Match Referee: Richie Richardson (West Indies)Pakistan (Playing XI): Shan Masood (Captain), Saud Shakeel (Vice Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafiq, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Kamran Ghulam, Sajid Khan, Nouman Ali, Aamir Jamal, Zahid Mehmood England (Playing XI): Ben Stoke (Captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckeet, Olli Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (Wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.   

CRICKET - Blinds 24 Oct, 2024

KPK and Balochistan defeat opponents in Blind Cricket T-20 Super League
Report: Rasheed AhmedBahawalpur (October 24, 2024): Khyber Paktunkawa (KPK) and Balochistan defeated their opponents Sindh, andPunjab respectively in the 8th edition of the PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024 here at Dring Stadium on Thursday.Game-5 (KPK beat Sindh by 6 wickets):KP won the toss and opted to field first, sending Sindh in to bat. Sindh struggled to get going and managed to post a below-par total of 153/4 in their 20 overs. Despite steady contributions from Babar Ali, who top-scored with 34 runs, Sanaullah (30), Badar Munir (27), and Muhammad Safdar (24), Sindh's batters couldn’t accelerate as needed to set a challenging target. Hamza added a late 16 runs, but the team failed to capitalize on their starts. KP’s bowling was led by Muhammad Shahzeb, who took 2 wickets, while Anees Javed claimed 1 wicket, keeping Sindh's scoring in check.In reply, KP chased down the target comfortably, reaching 154/4 in just 18 overs to secure a 6-wicket victory. Kamran anchored the chase with an unbeaten 53 off 39 balls, supported by Sanwal's 44 runs. Salman contributed a crucial 26 not out. Babar Ali’s bowling efforts were a bright spot for Sindh, as he took all 4 wickets that fell during the chase, but it wasn’t enough to defend the modest total.Man of the Match: Babar AliGame-6 (Balochistan beat Punjab by 5 wickets): In an exhilarating conclusion to the match, the Balochistan Blind Cricket team showcased remarkable determination as they chased down a challenging target of 201 runs set by Punjab, winning the game on the very last ball of the 20th over.Punjab Blind batted first and posted an impressive total of 200/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was highlighted by Haroon Khan, who played a superb knock of 61 off 41 balls, anchoring the team's performance. Mati Ullah contributed 35 runs, while Nisar Ali added a valuable 32 off 24 balls. Zafar Iqbal chipped in with 20 runs, and Mohsin scored 26 to boost the total. Asif Khan and Ayub Khan each claimed a wicket for the bowling side, but Punjab's steady batting ensured a challenging target for their opponents.In response, Balochistan set out with a positive intent, led by Niamatullah, whose explosive innings of 84 off 53 balls pierced through the Punjab bowling attack. Moain Aslam played a pivotal role in the chase as well, smashing 70 runs off just 39 balls, keeping the required run rate within reach. However, the chase wasn't without its challenges. Balochistan lost wickets at crucial times, creating pressure, but the steady partnership between Niamatullah and Moain proved crucial.Haroon Khan, who had starred with the bat, also made vital contributions with the ball, taking 3 wickets, including the key scalp of Niamatullah, to swing the momentum back in Punjab's favor momentarily. Mohsin Khan chipped in with another wicket, but Balochistan responded well, maintaining their composure and looking to the end of the innings.As the final over approached, the tension mounted with Balochistan needing 11 runs to win in the last over. In a nail-biting finish, they managed to score the required runs on the last ball, sealing a thrilling victory by 5 wickets.Man of the Match: Niamatullah. 
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