Sports Bulletin

Abdul Jabbar Faisal RAWALPINDI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to filed first against New Zealand in the penultimate fixture of the 5-match T20 International Cricket Series on Thursday night. Pakistan (Playing XIs): Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan New Zealand (Playing XIs): Tom Latham (Captain & Wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Will Young

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today confirmed Mickey Arthur’s appointment as the Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team. In this role, Arthur will be involved in designing, formulating and overseeing strategies behind the Pakistan men’s team. The 54-year-old will also be a part of the coaching staff for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, away tour to Australia and home series against the West Indies. He will also be present with the side for Pakistan’s matches against India in the ACC Asia Cup. It is noteworthy to mention here that during his time from 2016 to 2019, Arthur coached Pakistan to No.1 in Tests and T20Is, and also helped the side to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Najam Sethi, Chair of PCB Management Committee, said: “I am pleased that Mickey has formally rejoined the Pakistan men’s cricket team with an enhanced role in which he will be responsible for formulating and implementing strategies for the upcoming assignments across all formats. Furthermore, he will also be responsible for strengthening the national team culture, identifying and grooming future stars so that we can strengthen our bench-strength and strategically secure our future. “Having lived and worked in Pakistan during his previous tenure, Mickey knows the current players, the structure and the system at the back of his hand. I am sure he will incorporate learnings from the previous tenure so that he can have an even more successful second term.” Director Pakistan team Mickey Arthur said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be rejoining the Pakistan cricket team and look forward to working with the group. Since moving on, I have kept a track of the players and their collective performances. This is a talented bunch with the potential to be number one across all formats and my endeavor is to put in place strategies and create an environment that can contribute in further enhancing their performances so that we can extract the best out of them.”

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The gate money from the fifth and final T20 International between Pakistan and New Zealand will be donated to the earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria. The match will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on 24 April and the fans can buy tickets at pcb.bookme.pk. The border region of Türkiye and Syria was rocked by one of the deadliest earthquakes on 6 February that claimed thousands of lives and destroyed essential infrastructure, including healthcare facilities. In this regard, the Pakistan Cricket Board will play a part in raising donations for millions of people affected on either side of the border by joining hands with the Punjab Government. The Pakistan side will wear commemorative caps to convey Pakistan's everlasting solidarity to the two nations going through this difficult moment

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and New Zealand teams have arrived in the capital city Islamabad on Tuesday (today) to play two T20I and two One Day International (ODI) matches at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi, as the 4th T20I will be played on April 20, 2023. Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (captain, wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young Schedule & Results: April 14, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 88 runs April 15, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 38 runs April 17, 2023: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 4 wickets April 20, 2023: 4th T20 at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi April 24, 2023: 5th T20 at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi April 27, 2023: 1st ODI at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi April 29, 2023: 2nd ODI at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi May 3, 2023:3rd ODI at National Stadium Karachi May 5, 2023: 4th ODI at National Stadium Karachi May 7, 2023: 5th ODI at National Stadium Karachi

Iftikhar's explosive half-century in vain as New Zealand claim first win in series Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Tourist New Zealand cricket team defeated Pakistan by 4 runs in the 3rd T20 international on Monday night at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore, as the Iftikhar Ahmed’s blistering innings went in vain, who scored 60 runs. It is pertinent to mention here that the previous two matches were won by the hosts at the same venue by 88 runs and 38 runs, respectively and Green Shirts have still upper hand in the series 2-1. Both sides will now travel to Rawalpindi to play the remaining two T20Is of the series scheduled on 20 and 24 April, respectively. Chasing 164 to win, the home side didn’t have a good start as they lost seven wickets inside 15 overs with 88 runs on the board. Right-handed Iftikhar was joined by left-handed Faheem Ashraf and the pair went on to add 61 runs off just 26 balls. With 72 runs required from the last five overs at the required run-rate of 14.40, Iftikhar and Faheem took the charge to the Kiwis’ bowlers and collected 16 runs from the 16th over. The 18th over of the innings – the most expensive over of the innings brought 23 runs for the side, where three sixes and a four was struck off Adam Milne’s over as the fast bowler ended-up with match figures of 4-0-37-2. Only eight runs came off the 19th over of the innings in which the tourists got a prized scalp of Faheem, who got out for 27 off 14 balls, striking two sixes and as many fours. With 15 runs required in the final over to win the match and two wickets in hand, Iftikhar struck Jimmy Neesham for a six on the first ball and then for a four on the third ball to bring down the equation to five off three balls, but Neesham kept his cool and took Iftikhar’s wicket on the fourth ball and then Haris Rauf off the last ball to give New Zealand a four-run win. Iftikhar’s innings included six towering sixes and three fours, as he scored 60 off just 24 balls. For the winning team, Neesham took three wickets for 38 in four overs. Earlier, after opting to bat first, Tom Latham played a captain’s innings as the left-handed opening batter top-scored for his side with a 49-ball 64, which included seven fours and two sixes. Daryl Michell was the other notable contributor with the bat, scoring 33 off 26 balls, hitting two fours and a six. For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf bagged two wickets apiece.

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (UAE): Two of the most formidable Test teams will go head-to-head in the Ultimate Test – the final of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 at The Oval, London from 7 June. Australia and India were the top two sides of the 69-Test, two-year cycle which saw the two dominate their rivals before heading into a thrilling four-Test series in India which the hosts won by a narrow 2-1 margin. Australia finished at the top of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 standings with 11 wins, five draws and three defeats (19 matches) which earned them 152 points and a PCT of 66.67. India collected 127 points, winning 10 Tests, drawing three and losing five (18 matches) to finish with a 58.8 PCT – second spot in the standings. Australia’s journey to the ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023 Final: Australia started their ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 campaign with a resounding 4-0 Ashes win over their oldest rivals England at home. The series was played in December-January 2021-22 with the hosts dominating the visitors throughout. The convincing victory earned Australia a hefty 52 points spread over the five Tests. Australia toured Pakistan for a historic three-match Test series in March last year, their first visit to the Asian country in 24 years. After playing out draws in Rawalpindi and Karachi, the Pat Cummins-led side earned a hard fought fifth-day win in Lahore to seal a 1-0 series win. Australia earned 20 points from the series. The Australians toured Sri Lanka for a two-Test series in June-July 2022, a 1-1 series draw earning them 12 points. The home season brought more success for Australia as they trounced the West Indies 2-0 in a two-match series. The series clean sweep earned them 24 points. South Africa toured Australia next and suffered a 2-0 defeat in a three-match series that earned Australia 28 additional ICC World Test Championship points. Despite their 2-1 defeat to India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy – February-March 2023, Australia sealed their ICC World Test Championship final spot with a resounding nine-wicket win in Indore – the third Test of the four-match series. Australia secured a total of 16 points from the series. India’s journey to the ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023 Final: India took on England away in a five-match series that was split into two parts with the first four matches played in August 2021 and the series decider – fifth Test – a year later in July 2022. The fifth Test had to be postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp. The enthralling series finished as a 2-2 draw, India were 2-1 ahead when the series was stopped in 2021, they then lost the Birmingham Test in July 2022. India earned 24 points spread across the five Tests. India defeated New Zealand 1-0 in a two-match series at home in November-December 2021. The hosts collected 16 points. A hard-fought three-match series in South Africa was won by the hosts, India won one Test as the series ended 2-1 in favour of the Proteas. India gathered 11 points. Sri Lanka were beaten 2-0 at home in a two-match series in March 2022 as India secured 24 valuable points. A 2-0 win over Bangladesh in an away series gave India 24 crucial points in December 2022 before their 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series win at home against Australia saw them bag 28 points. India secured their Ultimate Test spot when they played out a draw in Ahmedabad – the fourth and final Test of the BGT series as Sri Lanka lost narrowly to New Zealand in Christchurch last month. The Islanders needed to beat New Zealand 2-0 in the two-match series to clinch a spot in the final ahead of India.

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI: Pakistan and New Zealand teams will arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday for the last two T20Is and the first two One-Day Internationals of the five-match series at the Pindi Cricket Stadium after playing 3rd T20 at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore on Monday (today) night. All activities at Pindi Cricket Stadium 19 April 2023: The two sides will practice from 1945 till 2245. Beforehand, squad members from both sides will hold pre-match media conferences. 20 April, 2023: The two teams play the fourth T20I from 2100. After the match, the PCB will provide interviews of the star performers from both sides. 21-23 April, 2023: Eid Holidays 24 April, 2023: The two teams will play the fifth and final T20I, which begins at 2100. Squad members from both sides will hold post-match media conferences. 25 April, 2023: Rest day 26 April, 2023: The two teams will practice from 1600 till 1900. The two captains will unveil the One-Day International trophy and a squad member from each side will hold pre-series media conference.  27 April, 2023: Pakistan and New Zealand play the first ODI, which begins at 1530. After the match, star performers from both sides will hold media conferences 28 April, 2023: Rest day 29 April, 2023: Pakistan and New Zealand play the second ODI, which begins at 1530. After the match, star performers from both sides will hold media conferences 30 April, 2023: The two teams depart for Karachi for the last three ODIs.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: The 3rd T20 international will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand on Monday (today) here at Qaddafi Stadium. Green Shirts led by Babar Azam already got a lead of 2-0 in the five-match tie after winning both matches at the same venue. Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (captain, wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young Schedule & Results: April 14, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 88 runs April 15, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 38 runs April 17, 2023: 3rd T20 at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore April 20, 2023: 4th T20 at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi April 24, 2023: 5th T20 at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi April 27, 2023: 1st ODI at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi April 29, 2023: 2nd ODI at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi May 3, 2023:3rd ODI at National Stadium Karachi May 5, 2023: 4th ODI at National Stadium Karachi May 7, 2023: 5th ODI at National Stadium Karachi

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 38 runs in the second T20I of the ongoing five-match series at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore on Saturday night, as the hosts got a 2-0 lead in the series. Babar Azam’s ton (101 not out) and Haris Rauf (4 for 27) were the notable performance by the Pakistani players. Earlier, Babar won the toss and opted to bat first second time in a row in the series, as the opening batters Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam provided a solid 99-run start to the innings with Rizwan bringing up his 24th half-century in this format off 29 balls, smashing seven fours and a six. He was the first to be dismissed in the 11th over courtesy Daryl Mitchell taking a catch off last match hat-trick bowler Matt Henry. Henry was well on course to take another hat-trick when he sent Fakhar Zaman back to the hut the very next ball, but was denied the hat-trick by left-handed Saim Ayub who blocked the last ball of the 11th over. But Saim was dismissed in the next over (11.5) without scoring any runs. All-rounder Imad Wasim was dismissed early (2 off 5) with the home side in a spot of bother with the scoreboard reading 105 for four in 12.5 overs. At that crucial juncture of the innings, skipper and player of the match Babar was joined by Iftikhar Ahmed and the pair went on to score runs at will. The duo added an unbroken 87 runs for the fifth wicket off 43 balls, which included Iftikhar’s unbeaten 33 off 19 balls, hitting one four and three sixes. But the star of the night was Babar, who during the course of the match, not only brought up his third T20I century, but also became the first captain to score three centuries in this format. This was also Babar’s second T20I century at home, with his first century coming against England in Karachi seven months ago. Almost a packed capacity Lahore crowd thoroughly enjoyed Babar’s strokeplay as the third-ranked ICC T20I batter brought up his half-century in 36 balls, laced with six fours. He went on to score the remaining 51 runs off just 22 balls, and returned undefeated on 101 off 58 balls, striking seven fours and one six. Pakistan posted 192 for 4 in 20 overs on the board. In return, the Kiwis were chasing 193 to win at the required run-rate of 9.65 were not allowed to score freely. Latham’s opening partner Chad Bowes scored 26 off 24, which included three fours. The fact that the Kiwis managed to score 154 for seven in their allotted 20 overs was largely due to Mark Chapman's unbeaten innings of 65 off 40 balls, hitting four fours and as many sixes. For Pakistan, right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf once again excelled as he claimed back-to-back four-wicket hauls, taking four wickets and conceding 27 runs from his four overs. In the first T20I, Haris took four wickets for 18 runs in 3.3 overs.

Pathans outclass Islamabad Hawks by 24 runs in final, Hasnain declared best player ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL RAWALPINDI: Peshawar Pathans have won the title of the 2nd Markhor Ramadan T20 Cricket Cup after thrashing Islamabad Hawks by 24 runs in the final here at Ayub National Park Cricket Stadium on Friday night. Hasnain Ali was awarded man of the match memento for his remarkable all-round performance. In the final, Islamabad Hawks’ captain Dowlat Zardan won the toss and decided to chase the target, as the Peshawar Pathans posted 169 for 8 runs on the scoreboard. Ali Hussnain made 74 runs in 41 balls while Atta scored 32 in 25 balls. Kamran Ismaeel played a knock of 18 runs after lasting only 7 balls. Imran Raza (2 for 37), Khawar Shahzad (1 for 22), and Nawaz (1 for 30) were the successful bowlers for Islamabad Hawks. Islamabad Hawka could not reach on target owing to a fine piece of bowling by Hussnain Ali, who got three vital wickets for his 14 runs, as the rest of the damage was done by Kamran Ismaeel, who dismissed three batters for 35 runs. Altaf got a solitary wicket after conceding 14 runs. H Khan (56 runs, 40 balls), Zain Farooq (22 runs, 21 balls), and Shahzad (15 runs, 3 balls) were the notable performances with the bat for Islamabad Hawks. Summarized Scorecard: Toss: Islamabad Hawks won the toss and elected to field first Venue: Ayub Park National Stadium, Rawalpindi Man of the Match: Hussain Ali (Peshawar Pathans) Peshawar Pathans (Batting) 169 for 8 in 20 overs Hussnain Ali (74 runs, 41 balls), Atta (32 runs, (25 balls), Kamran Ismaeel (18 rusn, 7 balls) Islamabad Hawks (Bowling) Imran Raza (2 for 37), Khawar Shahzad (1 for 22), Nawaz (1 for 30) Islamabad Hawks (Batting) 134 all out in 18.1 20 overs Habib Khan (56 runs, 40 balls), Zain Farooq (22 runs, 21 balls), Khawar Shahzad (15 runs, 3 balls) Peshawar Pathans (Bowling) Ali Husnain (3 for 14), Kamran Ismaeel (3 for 35), Altaf (1 for 14)