Sports Bulletin

Faisal JB ISLAMABAD (December 30, 2022): Showbiz XIs outclassed Askari XIs by 8 wickets in an exhibition cricket match here at Islamabad Club cricket ground on Friday. Film and TV artists and ex-military officers and others enjoyed the exhibition cricket match. The Showbiz XIs were led by the talented Faisal Qureshi, while the Askari XIs were led by Major (retd) Ahmed Nadeem Sadal. After winning the toss and playing first, Askari XI scored 128 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the stipulated 15 overs. Major (R) Hasnain 26 and Colonel (R) Mansoor were outstanding with 25 runs. Mohsen Awan took 2 wickets and Ijaz Aslam took 1 wicket each on behalf of Showbiz XIs. Showbiz XIs achieved at the loss of two wickets. Kamran Khan scored 60 runs not out while Daniyal scored 40 runs. Wicketkeeper Abeer Amjad performed brilliantly. He took two catches and one stump behind the wickets. The special guest in the prize distribution ceremony was Lieutenant General (Retd) Munir Hafeez, winner trophy Shobar XI captain Faisal Qureshi while D-Concept's Daniyal Arshad, Samiralias and Umeer Zai gave the runner-up trophy to Askari XI captain Major (R) Ahmed Nadeem Sadal.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and hosts Islamabad registered victories in the PAF T20 Cricket Championship Trophy for the Blind 2022 that started at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Islamabad at PAF Cricket Ground E-9 Islamabad. Air Commodore Sohail Akbar TI(M),Base Commander, PAF Base Islamabad graced the opening ceremony as chief guest. Also, chairman, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) Syed Sultan Shah and Bilal Ahmed Satti were present on this occasion.  In the first match, AJK outclassed Gujranwala by 9 wickets. In allotted 15 overs Gujranwala scored 111 for the loss of 5 wickets. Mohammad Akram was the top scorer with 27 runs from Gujranwala while Faisal, Kamran and Mehtab took one wicket each. In reply, Kashmir easily chased the target in 8.5 overs with brisk knocked of 56 by Tehsin who was named man of the match. Later on, in the second match, Peshawar batting first scored 134 runs for the loss of 7 wickets, Mohsin was the top scorer with 38 runs. Anees and Matiullah from Islamabad took 2 wickets each. In reply Islamabad chased the target in 14 over for the loss of 4 wickets. Syed Kashan scored splendid 58 not out runs and awarded man of the match. Two matches will be played on Saturday, first match will be played between Gujranwala and Islamabad while in the second match Peshawar will face AJK at the same venue.

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI: Pakistan still face a deficit of 97 runs as the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand at National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi heads into the final day. Trailing by 174 runs after the first innings, Pakistan finished the fourth day on 77-2, with Imam-ul-Haq unbeaten on 45 and nightwatchman Nauman Ali four not out. New Zealand were buoyed by two late strikes in the day and would be looking to push for victory on a surface that has not so far taken sharp turn. Opening batter Abdullah Shafique was the first wicket to fall for Pakistan after he stepped out of the crease to attempt an ill-fated lofted shot off spinner Michael Bracewell, and was caught at mid-on for 17. Later in the evening session, Shan Masood was adjudged leg before off Ish Sodhi for 10 and the ball was deemed to be clipping the leg-stump on umpire’s call after the former opted for a review. Kane Williamson headlined New Zealand’s batting surge earlier in the day with his fifth Test double century, taking him past Brendon McCullum for the most number of double tons for the Black Caps. His terrific innings, studded with 21 boundaries and one six, helped the tourists to declare their first innings on 612-9 -- a good 174-run lead over Pakistan's 438. Williamson’s 10-hour knock was not entirely chanceless as he had survived two stumpings off spinner Noman on 15 and 21. Resuming on the overnight score of 440-6, Williamson and Sodhi batted through the first session and took the team total to 595 before the seventh-wicket stand was finally broken by Abrar Ahmed. The 24-year-old spinner removed Sodhi for 65 after he had made his fourth Test half-century. Tim Southee and Neil Wagner did not disturb the scorers as New Zealand lost three wickets in the space of two runs, but last-man Ajaz Patel stuck around to help former skipper Williamson reach the milestone. "It's nice to be part of a number of partnerships that has given us a competitive total and put us in a reasonable position," said Williamson. But he still thought it would be tough to force a win. "We know there is a lot of hard work and patience going into tomorrow in trying to utilise the assistance of the surface as well as we can." Pakistan’s Abrar lamented the lack of assistance from the pitch as he registered his second five-wicket haul in five Test innings. "Whether you are a mystery spinner or whatever, you need at least some support from the pitch but when you are not getting any help then it's tough to get wickets," he said. Abrar finished with 5-205 while Noman managed 3-185. Scores in brief (Day-4): Pakistan (1st innings) 438, 130.5 overs (Babar Azam 161, Salman Ali Agha 103, Sarfaraz Ahmed 86, Imam-ul-Haq 24, Saud Shakeel 22; Tim Southee 3-69, Michael Bracewell 2-72, Ish Sodhi 2-87, Ajaz Patel 2-112) New Zealand (1st innings) 612-9d, 194.5 overs (Kane Williamson 200 not out, Tom Latham 113, Devon Conway 92, Ish Sodhi 65; Abrar Ahmed 5-205, Noman Ali 3-185) Pakistan (2nd innings) 77-2, 31 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 45 not out, Abdullah Shafique 17; Ish Sodhi 1-17, Mic hael Bracewell 1-23)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: PAF National T20 Blind Cricket Champions Trophy will start from Friday (December 30, 2022) at PAF cricket ground under the banner of Islamabad Cricket Club of the Blind in collaboration with Pakistan Air Force (PAF). According to an official of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), the final will be played on January 2, 2023 at the same venue. Four teams across the country including Peshawar, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Gujranwala & Islamabad will participate in this mega event. The Inaugural ceremony of the event will be held at PAF Complex E-9 Islamabad on 30 December 2022 at 1100 am. Air Commodore Sohail Akbar TI (M), Base Commander, PAF Base Islamabad will grace the occasion as chief guest. On first day, two matches will be played, as the first match will be played between AJK and Gujranwala while in the second match host Islamabad will face Peshawar at the same venue.

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI: The Men’s Interim National Selection Committee has named 21 probables for the three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League matches against New Zealand, which will be played here at the National Bank Cricket Arena on 9, 11 and 13 January. The selectors will announce the 16-player squad following the conclusion of the Pakistan Cup and during the second Test, which will also be played here from 2-6 January. Opener Sharjeel Khan has been named after playing his 25th and final ODI in January 2017, while Shan Masood, who played against Australia in five ODIs in the UAE in 2019, has also been included in the probables list. The selectors have included six players who are yet to make an ODI appearance. They are: Abrar Ahmed, Aamer Jamal, Ihsanullah, Kamran Ghulam, Qasim Akram and Tayyab Tahir. Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi (injured) and Zahid Mehmood, who were part of the squad for the ODI series against the Netherlands, have not been named in the probables list. Probables: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Aamer Jamal, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Qasim Akram, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Sharjeel Khan and Tayyab Tahir

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (UAE): The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the upcoming programme for the ICC Awards 2022, which seeks to celebrate the outstanding cricketers who excelled on the world stage during the calendar year. The year saw many memorable moments and performances across the global game, including the thrilling action which characterised the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, and the incredible drama of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. The ICC Awards 2022 will comprise a total of 13 categories, with awards honouring individuals who shone in specific formats, and also across multiple formats in the overall categories - the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year, and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year. Shortlist Announcements Shortlists for nine of the 13 categories will be revealed between 28 – 30 December on ICC official channels. Each shortlist will feature four names. 28 December sees the shortlists for ICC Emerging Men’s and Women’s Cricketers of the Year revealed. 29 December sees nominees announced for the Men’s and Women’s ODI Cricketers of the Year, and the Men’s and Women’s T20I Cricketers of the Year. 30 December will see the final shortlists revealed, the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year, the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year. Shortlists for these categories have been determined by a specialist panel of cricket writers and broadcasters, who identified the star performers based on statistics and overall achievements in international cricket through the calendar year. Voting Voting in the ICC Awards 2022 will then commence in early January 2023, where a wider selection of global media representatives, the ICC Voting Academy, will submit their selections alongside global cricket fans, who will once again be encouraged to vote at icc-cricket.com for their winners. Results of the ICC Voting Academy selections and the fans’ vote will be combined to determine the winner in each of these nine categories. ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year will also be announced from the action in 2022. These categories will not feature shortlists and will be determined solely by the ICC Voting Academy. Also announced as part of the ICC Awards is the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award. This accolade honours an action, moment, gesture, or decision on the field of play in international cricket during the year which best reflects the Spirit of Cricket, with the winning entry selected by the ICC. Finally, the ICC Umpire of the Year Award will celebrate the outstanding umpire from the calendar year. This award is determined by votes collected from the Emirates Elite Panel of Match Referees, as well as playing captains from ICC Full Member nations. In addition to the individual awards, five ICC Teams of the Year will be also decided by the ICC Voting Academy, identifying the standout XIs from the international stage in men’s and women’s cricket. Following the conclusion of the voting period, winners of the ICC Awards 2022 will be announced later in January 2023. ICC Awards 2022 – categories: Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year ICC Spirit of Cricket Award ICC Umpire of the Year

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI: Salman Ali Agha stroked his maiden Test century in his sixth appearance before Pakistan were bowled out for 438 in their first innings against New Zealand in the first Test at the National Bank Cricket Arena on Tuesday. No.7 batter Salman, who was three overnight in Pakistan’s 317 for five, was the last batter dismissed after scoring 103 as the home side added 121 runs on the second day. New Zealand produced a strong reply, reaching 165 at stumps with openers Devon Conway batting on 82 and Tom Latham 78 not out. Conway’s 156-ball innings includes 12 fours, while Latham’s 126-ball innings is studded with eight fours as the visitors now trail the hosts by 273 runs. Conway, when 57, could have been dismissed off Noman Ali, but Aleem Dar failed to spot the inside edge and Pakistan also didn’t refer the decision to the third umpire, allowing the batter to consolidate his side’s position in the match. Earlier, Babar Azam failed to add to his last evening’s score of 161 when he became his opposite number Tim Southee’s second victim. Salman and Noman Ali then added 54 runs for the seventh wicket with the latter contributing only seven runs before becoming Neil Wagner’s only wicket of the innings. Mohammad Wasim Jnr departed three runs later as Pakistan slipped to 375 for eight, but Salman took control of the proceeding and added 63 priceless runs with the last two wickets of Mir Hamza and Abrar Ahmed, whose collective contribution was seven runs. Salman, whose first 50 runs came off 97 balls with seven fours, brought his second 50 runs from 49 balls with 10 fours. He eventually fell to Southee, who finished with figures of three for 69. Ish Sodhi, who was wicketless yesterday, picked up the scalps of Wasim and Mir Hamza to finish with two for 87. Scores in brief Pakistan (1st innings) (overnight 317-5) 438, 130.5 overs (Babar Azam 161, Salman Ali Agha 103, Sarfaraz Ahmed 86, Imam-ul-Haq 24, Saud Shakeel 22; Tim Southee 3-69, Michael Bracewell 2-72, Ish Sodhi 2-87, Ajaz Patel 2-112) New Zealand (1st innings) 165-0, 47 overs (Devon Conway 82 not out and Tom Latham 78 not out)

Sports Bulletin Report LONDON: England Men are scheduled to play three ODIs and three IT20s against Bangladesh in March 2023 after the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed the tour dates. The tourists will return to Bangladesh for the first time since 2016 and will play internationals in Dhaka and Chattogram. The tour will start with three ODIs, the first two matches taking place at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS), Dhaka on Wednesday 1 March and Friday 3 March. The final match of the series will take place on Monday 6 March at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS), Chattogram. The three-match IT20 series starts on Thursday 9 March at ZACS in Chattogram. The final two matches are on Sunday 12 March and Tuesday 14 March at SBNCS, Dhaka. The last time both teams played each other in 2016, England won the ODI series 2-1. The England party are expected to play two warm-up fixtures ahead of the ODIs. The warm-up schedule will be announced in due course. Clare Connor, ECB Interim Chief Executive Officer, said: “It is exciting that the England Men’s white-ball squad will return to Bangladesh for the first time since 2016. The atmosphere generated in Dhaka and Chattogram for this eagerly-anticipated tour will be fantastic. “There is a great passion for cricket across Bangladesh, and we expect a tough challenge against a side who have an excellent record in home conditions.” England Men’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh Schedule: Three-Match ODI Series 1st ODI: Bangladesh v England, 1 March, SBNCS, Dhaka 2nd ODI: Bangladesh v England, 3 March, SBNCS, Dhaka 3rd ODI: Bangladesh v England, 6 March, ZACS, Chattogram Three-Match IT20 Series 1st IT20: Bangladesh v England, 9 March, ZACS, Chattogram 2nd IT20: Bangladesh v England, 12 March, SBNCS, Dhaka 3rd IT20: Bangladesh v England, 14 March, SBNCS, Dhaka

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI (December 26, 2022): Pakistan recovered from a precarious 110 for four to finish the opening day’s play in the first Test against New Zealand at 317 for five at the National Bank Cricket Arena on Monday. Captain Babar Azam benefitted from a dropped catch at 12 to end the day at a sublime 161 not out, his third century in fifth Test in Karachi and ninth overall in 46 Tests, while former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, returning in whites for the first time since January 2019, was dismissed for 86 when five overs remained in the day. The 35-year-old former captain, playing his 50th Test and first at his home ground, struck nine fours in his 256 minutes of batting and added 196 runs for the fifth wicket with Babar Azam. It was this partnership that rescued Pakistan after New Zealand had made a dream start to their first Test here since 1990 and first in Pakistan in 20 years by reducing the home side to 48 for three in the first hour before the hosts, aiming to avoid fifth straight defeat in their backyard, reached 115 for four at lunch. Babar and Sarfaraz then added 109 runs in the second session as Pakistan went for tea at 224 for four, while the last session yielded 93 runs for the loss of the latter. Babar, whose previous scores in Karachi were 60, 100 not out (vs Sri Lanka), 7, 30 (vs South Africa), 36, 196 (vs Australia) and 78, 54 (vs England), has struck 15 fours and a six in his 363 minutes of batting. World No.2 ranked batter survived a nervous moment in the final over of the day when he was declared leg before off Ajaz Patel, but television replays confirmed the ball would have gone over the stumps. During this knock, Babar also became the highest run-scorer in Tests in 2022, beating England's Joe Root who ended the year with 1,098 in 15 matches. Babar, who now has 1,170 runs in nine Tests this year, also beat Mohammad Yousuf's aggregate of 2,435 in all three formats of the game in 2006 -- the most by a Pakistan batter. He now has 2,584 runs in three formats this year. Earlier, Babar Azam made the right call on the spin of coin, but New Zealand made the most of the first hour’s play with the new ball when left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel and off-spinner Michael Bracewell had Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood stumped in a space of 16 balls as Pakistan slipped to 19 for two. This was the first time in the history of Test cricket when the first two batters on the opening day of the match had been stumped. New Zealand could have added the scalp of Babar at the score of 47 but Daryl Mitchell dropped a sitter in the first slip off Bracewell, who, one run later, had Imam-ul-Haq caught at mid-off by Tim Southee to leave Pakistan tottering at 48 for three. At that stage, Babar and local boy Saud Shakeel (22) put on 62 runs for the fourth wicket to take the score to 110. Saud wasted his wicket a stroke before lunch when he was caught at point by Henry Nicholls off Southee. However, the master and his disciple – Sarfaraz and Babar – held the innings together and played some delightful strokes to all parts of the field. Babar reached his half-century from 76 balls with seven fours, while he brought up his ninth Test century with his only six from 161 balls that also included nine fours. Sarfaraz completed his 19th half-century from 84 balls. Scores in brief: Pakistan (1st innings) 317-5, 90 overs (Babar Azam 161 not out, Sarfaraz Ahmed 86, Saud Shakeel 22; Michael Bracewell 2-61, Ajaz Patel 2-91)

BIPIN DANI Mirpur (Bangladesh): Team India is carrying the Killer Trophy (Indian sponsor company) to India after winning the second Test match and 2-0 series against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium SBNS) on Sunday. "It is not a rotational trophy but was made by our sponsor for this bilateral series", Mohammed Jalal Yunus, the chairman of Cricket Operations Committee, said. Incidentally, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has a plan in future to have a rotational trophy between the two teams. "We have a good relationship with the Indian cricket board and will certainly plan a permanent trophy to play between the two teams", he reveals.  "India already have a Gavaskar-Border trophy, which is being shared with Cricket Australia and Sri Lanka-Australia have a Muralitharan-Shane Warne Trophy. We will also plan to share a similar trophy with India". "It will be named after two legendary cricketers of two countries. India has been playing Test cricket since 1932 and obviously they have produced many legends, whereas we started playing Test cricket only in 2000 and our board would decide on whose name the trophy to be made", the chairman added. Sharing award   Indian spinner R. Ashwin, who won the Player of the Match award has shared the same with Shreyas Iyer. "Shreyas batted beautifully, if he wasn't the player of the series, I'd have shared this with him", Ashwin declared at the presentation. The Player of the Series award went to Cheteshwar Pujara. Ashwin's gesture of sharing the award with his colleague (Shreyas Iyer) with whom Team India could clinch the match and the series was well lauded by Ashwin's wife Preethi. Speaking exclusively from India (she was not travelling with the team), she said, "it is an amazing gesture by Ash. Shreyas equally deserved this. They both saw that India could overcome the difficult situation on Sunday". "Yes, it was a tough call by two batters and at one point of time it looked difficult but still we had a ray of hope".