Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Australia fast bowler Scott Boland has broken into the top 10 of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings for the first time after helping his team defeat India by six wickets in Sydney to win their ICC World Test Championship series 3-1.The 35-year-old, who finished with a haul of 10 for 86 in the fifth Test match, has progressed 29 slots and is ranked joint-ninth along with India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Boland’s previous best was 36th position that he had attained in June 2023 after picking five wickets in the ICC World Test Championship Final against India.Jasprit Bumrah remains at the top of the list adding one rating point and going up to 908 (improving on the record for Indian bowlers) even as Australia captain Pat Cummins and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada have inched up a slot each to reach second and third positions, respectively.In the latest weekly rankings that also take into consideration the second Test between South Africa and Pakistan in Cape Town and the second Test between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan in Bulawayo, South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj has advanced two places to 17th position after taking five wickets in Cape Town while Blessing Muzarabani of Zimbabwe (up five places to 43rd) and Rashid Khan of Afghanistan (re-entered at 54th position) are others to gain.Huge gains for South Africa batters: South Africa batters have made huge inroads after their 10-wicket victory over Pakistan. Ryan Rickelton’s match-winning 259 has lifted him 48 places to 55th position while captain Temba Bavuma (up three places to a career-best-equalling sixth position) and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (up four places to 24th) have also advanced after notching centuries.Rishabh Pant of India is back in the top 10, while Pakistan’s Baba Azam (up five places to 12th) and Shan Masood (up 12 places to 45th), Afghanistan’s Rahmad Shah (up 26 places to 26th) and Zimbabwe’s Craig Ervine (up 10 places to 37th) are among others to move the batting rankings.South Africa’s Marco Jansen, named Player of the Series after finishing with 10 wickets and 80 runs, has moved up two slots to second among all-rounders.In the Men’s ODI Rankings, Will Young (up nine places to joint-13th) and Rachin Ravindra (up six places to joint-50th) in batting and Matt Henry (up six places to 12th) in bowling have gained after the first match of their series against Sri Lanka in Wellington.Kusal Perera (up 26 places to 10th) of Sri Lanka and Daryl Mitchell (up five places to 41st) of New Zealand have moved up the T20I batting list after the last match of a preceding T20I series while Nuwan Thushara (up nine places to 26th) and Henry (up four places to 38th) are among the bowlers to progress.

Lahore (PR): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced that preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 were in full swing, with the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and National Bank Stadium in Karachi nearing completion to host tournament matches.In a regular update, the PCB assured the fans, spectators and media that all upgradation work was progressing on schedule and will be completed before or around the set deadlines. Given the advanced stage of preparations at Gaddafi Stadium and National Bank Stadium, the PCB has decided to relocate the upcoming tri-nation ODI series to these two venues. The series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa alongside Pakistan, was originally scheduled to be held in Multan.This decision reflects the PCB’s confidence in the readiness of these upgraded venues and their ability to deliver a world-class experience for players, officials and fans alike. Further details regarding the series will be shared in due course.Upgrades at Gaddafi Stadium: The spectator capacity at Gaddafi Stadium has been increased to 35,000, with new chairs installed throughout the venue. Additionally, 480 state-of-the-art LED lights have been installed to enhance broadcast LUX levels, ensuring superior viewing quality for fans worldwide. To further elevate the spectator experience, two giant digital replay screens - measuring 80 feet x 30 feet and 22 feet x 35 feet - will be installed next week. The stadium is set to be inaugurated in the last week of January. A brand-new players’ and officials’ hospitality enclosure has also been created, which will be operational by 25 January. The iconic stadium is set to provide an unparalleled experience for all stakeholders.Upgrades at National Bank Stadium: At the National Bank Stadium, significant enhancements have been made, including the creation of a new players’ and officials’ hospitality enclosure at the University End. To improve broadcast coverage, 350 LED lights have been installed, ensuring optimal visibility for global audiences. Two digital replay screens have already been fixed, and 5,000 new chairs have been installed to enhance spectator comfort.Upgrades at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is undergoing minor touch-ups, focusing on the installation of 10,000 new chairs, upgrades to hospitality boxes and the installation of two digital replay screens. These improvements are designed to ensure the stadium exceeds international standards for upcoming events.Maintenance of playing surfaces: Throughout the upgradation process, PCB curators, under the supervision of Tony Hemming, have diligently maintained the outfields and playing surfaces to keep them protected, healthy and fresh. To prioritise these efforts, no competitive cricket has been played in Lahore and Karachi since the commencement of the upgrades, while Rawalpindi last hosted a match late last year.Commitment to Excellence: The PCB is fully committed to ensuring that all venues are ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and other international matches. With over 250 workers laboring day and night to meet the 25 January deadline, the PCB is confident that the upgrades will elevate the fan experience and uphold Pakistan’s reputation as a premier cricketing destination.

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Balolchistan and Islamabad registered victories on the opening day of the A S Ali Blind Cricket Trophy National One-Day Format Tournament 2025 at two different venues in Karachi on Monday.The event’s inauguration ceremony was held at Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Ground, Karachi. Saeed Ghulam Mehdi, the Additional Commissioner of Karachi, was the chief guest and officially inaugurated the event. Other dignitaries present at the prestigious ceremony included Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council and Farman Ali, Director of the Department of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Sindh.Balochistan beat Sindh by 1 wicket: In the opening match of the tournament was contested between Balochistan and Sindh at Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Ground in Karachi. Balochistan won the toss and elected to field first, putting Sindh in to bat. Sindh was bowled out for a stimulating total of 364 runs in their allotted 40 overs. Ayoub Khan impressed with the bat, scoring a brisk 143 runs off 89 balls. Zafar Iqbal and Tahir provided strong support, scoring 68 runs off 56 balls and 54 runs off 52 balls, respectively. Niamat Ullah took 2 wickets for Balochistan.In response, Balochistan chased down the target with one wicket remaining, reaching 365 runs in 37 overs. Niamat Ullah was the star with the bat, scoring an exciting unbeaten 130 runs off 87 balls. Israr Hasan played a key role in the chase, contributing a crucial 55 runs off 43 balls. Talha Iqbal and Tahir Ali took 2 wickets each, while Irfan, Fakhar, and Zafar claimed 1 wicket each. Niamat Ullah got “Man of The Match” award.Islamabad beat Punjab by 2 runs: At NED Cricket Ground Karachi, Punjab won the toss and decided to bowl first. Islamabad, batting first, posted a striking total of 453 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their allotted 40 overs. Veteran Anees Javed was the standout performer, scoring a brilliant 157 runs off 84 balls. Mati Ullah also contributed superbly with 110 runs off 74 balls. For Punjab, Mohammad Safdar, Sajid, and Junaid each claimed 1 wicket.In reply, Punjab put up a strong fight but fell short by 2 runs, finishing their innings at 451 runs all out in 40 overs. Nisar Ali was the standout performer for Punjab, scoring an outstanding 200 runs off 107 balls, while Mohammad Safdar contributed 60 runs off 61 balls. Anees Javed took 2 wickets, and Mati Ullah claimed 1 wicket for Islamabad. Anees Javed declared for “Man of the Match” award.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The six HBL PSL franchises have announced their retentions ahead of the HBL PSL 2025 Players Draft, which is scheduled to take place on 11 January.Each franchise was allowed a maximum of eight retentions from their previous squad. Three franchises made full use of the retentions except Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi – who retained seven players each.Defending champions and three-time winners of the HBL PSL, Islamabad United have retained their skipper Shadab Khan, who was also player of the tournament in their successful campaign last season, and star fast bowler Naseem Shah in the Platinum category.Full retentions:Islamabad United (8) Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah (both Platinum), Imad Wasim (mentor) and Azam Khan (Diamond), Salman Ali Agha (Brand Ambassador) and Haider Ali (Both Gold, Colin Munro and Rumman Raees (both Silver)Multan Sultans (7) Mohammad Rizwan and Usama Mir (both Platinum), David Willey (mentor), Iftikhar Ahmed (Brand Ambassador) and Usman Khan (all Diamond), Chris Jordan (Gold), Faisal Akram (Silver)Peshawar Zalmi (7) Babar Azam, Saim Ayub (both Platinum), Mohammad Haris (Diamond), Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Moqim (Brand Ambassador) (all silver), Ali Raza (Emerging)Quetta Gladiators (8) Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir (mentor) and Rilee Rossouw (all Diamond), Akeal Hosein, Saud Shakeel (Brand Ambassador) and Mohammad Wasim Jnr (all Gold), Khawaja Muhammad Nafay and Usman Tariq (Silver)Karachi Kings (7) Hasan Ali and James Vince (both Diamond), Muhammad Irfan Khan and Shan Masood (both Gold), Arafat Minhas (Brand Ambassador), Tim Seifert and Zahid Mehmood (all Silver)Lahore Qalandars (8) Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman (both Platinum), Haris Rauf (Brand Ambassador) and Sikandar Raza (both Diamond), Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan and Zaman Khan (all Gold), David Wiese (Silver)Successful category relegation requests: Rumman Raees (Islamabad United), Hasan Ali, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood (all Karachi Kings), Abdullah Shafique (Lahore Qalandars), Faisal Akram (Multan Sultans)Some of the star foreign players registered in the top two categories: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq Murid, Mohammad Nabi, Hazratullah Zazai, Qais Ahmad, Nangeyalia Kharote (all Afghanistan), David Warner, Cooper Connolly, Matthew Short, Riley Meredith, Sean Abbott, William Sutherland, Mark Steketee, Ashton Agar, Daniel Sams, Jason Behrendorff, Chris Lynn, Moises Henriques, Ashton Turner, Alex Carey, Josh Philippe, Benjamin Dwarshuis, Tanveer Sangha, Jake Lehmann, (all Australia), Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Tawhid Hridoy (all Bangladesh), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sam Billings, Jason Roy, Joe Clarke, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills, Alex Hales, Laurie Evans, Dawid Malan, Luke Wood (all England), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Michael Bracewell, Martin Guptill, Ajaz Patel, Colin De Grandhomme, Ish Sodhi (All New Zealand), Rassie van Der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Corbin Bosch, Dwaine Pretorius, George Linde, Nandre Burger, Duan Jansen, Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder (all South Africa), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamika Karunaratne, Dasun Shanaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Dunith Wellalage, Lahiru Kumara, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (all Sri Lanka), Andries Gous, Corey Anderson (All USA), Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Matthew Forde, Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, Obed McCoy, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Dominic Drakes, Shamar Springer, Hayden Walsh Jnr (All West Indies), Ryan Burl, Blessing Muzarabani (all Zimbabwe).

Karachi (Sports Bulletin Report): Amad Butt led Sialkot from the front as he snapped four wickets to bundle out Peshawar for 258 in 80.1 overs on the first day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 final at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi. In turn, Sialkot only faced two overs jotting eight runs before stumps were drawn. Sialkot opted to bowl first and vindicated their decision by reducing Peshawar to 145-5 and then 258 all out, with none of their batters reaching half-century. Amad, who bagged 4-51 in 19.1 overs, was helped by young pacers Ali Raza (3-62) and Shoaib Akhtar Jnr (2-60) as the trio accounted for nine wickets in 60.1 overs giving away 173 runs.Earlier, opening batter Maaz Sadaqat struck four fours in his 61-ball 32-run stay at the crease while his partner Sahibzada Farhan returned for a mere six off 13 balls. No.4 batter, Nabi Gul faced 72 balls for his 44 runs with the help of seven fours before falling in the 34th over with 106 runs on the board. For Peshawar, No.6 batter Zubair Khan top-scored with 47 off 126 balls including six fours after having walked in at 106-4 in 33.2 overs. He stitched a 39-run fifth-wicket stand with Mehran Ibrahim (31, 65b, 3x4s) and a 48-run sixth-wicket stand with Abuzar Tariq (15, 59b, 2x4s).Skipper Sajid Khan (23, 26b, 4x4s), batting at No. 8 and Niaz Khan (31, 31b, 5x4s), in at No. 9, chipped in with valuable contributions lower down the order to push their team past the 250-run mark. Sialkot will begin the day two, trailing by 250 runs with ten wickets in hand. Scores in brief Final - Day 1 of 5 – Peshawar Region vs Sialkot Region at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi Peshawar 258 all out, 80.1 overs (Zubair Khan 47, Nabi Gul 44, Maaz Sadaqat 32, Mehran Ibrahim 31, Niaz Khan 31, Sajid Khan 23; Amad Butt 4-51, Ali Raza 3-62, Shoaib Akhtar Jnr 2-60) Sialkot 8-0, 2 overs 

BIPIN DANIThe minute of silence before the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 3rd T-20I match in Nelson to honor Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was a poignant moment in the world of cricket. It's not common for sporting events to pause in memory of a police officer, which underscores the depth of respect and solidarity extended by the cricket community.Senior Sergeant Fleming's tragic death on New Year's Day left a significant impact on the Nelson community and the nation. In recognizing her service and sacrifice, the cricket fraternity demonstrated its support for those who dedicate their lives to public safety.This tribute before the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match on Thursday will be remembered as a moment when the cricketing world paused to honor a dedicated officer, reflecting the values of respect and solidarity that transcend the boundaries of the sport.This rare tribute highlighted the strong connection between the cricketing world and wider societal events. By observing a minute of silence, the teams and spectators acknowledged the important role played by law enforcement officers and honored Fleming's contributions.Such gestures in cricket, though infrequent, serve to remind us of the sport's power to unite people and pay homage to those who serve the community. It shows that cricket is more than just a game; it's a platform where humanity and sportsmanship come together.

Centurion (South Africa): South Africa were 82 for three in reply to Pakistan’s 211 all out as 13 wickets fell on the opening day of the first Test match at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.After being put into bat, the tourists on the back of half-century by Kamran Ghulam managed to score 211 all out in 57.3 overs. Kamran, the right-hand batter from Upper Dir, playing his third Test, scored a 71-ball 54, which included eight fours and a six. This was Kamran’s maiden Test half-century, after he had scored his maiden ton, in his first Test innings against England at home.Kamran knitted an 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket with white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan (27, 62b, 2x4s). All-rounder Aamir Jamal (28, 27b, 4x4s) was other notable contributor with the bat. For South Africa, Dane Paterson, playing his seventh Test, bagged second five-wicket haul and ended up with figures of 16-4-61-5. Debutant and fast bowler Corbin Bosch took four wickets.In turn, the hosts lost Tony de Zorzi (2, 8b) and Ryan Rickelton (8, 10b, 2x4s) to Khurram Shahzad inside seven overs. Right-arm fast Mohammad Abbas, making a comeback in the Test side after more than three years, got Tristan Stubbs leg-before wicket for nine in the 16th over. At stumps, South Africa were 82 for three in 22 overs with opening batter Aiden Markram returning unbeaten on 47.Scores in brief (Day-1):Pakistan 211 all out, 57.3 overs (Kamran Ghulam 54, Aamir Jamal 28, Mohammad Rizwan 27; Dane Paterson 5-61, Corbin Bosch 4-63)South Africa 82-3, 22 overs (Aiden Markram 47 not out; Khurram Shahzad 2-28 (SBR). 

Lahore (SBR): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed the West Indies men’s cricket team’s tour of Pakistan for the two ICC World Test Championship matches and announced the schedule of tour.The West Indies cricket team will arrive in Islamabad on 6 January and after playing a three-day match against Pakistan Shaheens from 10-12 January at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, they will take on Pakistan in back-to-back Tests in Multan. The first Test will be played from 17-21 January, while the second Test will be held from 25-29 January.This will be the West Indies’ first Test tour of Pakistan in 19 years when they played three Tests in November 2006, while their last Test away Test series against Pakistan was in the UAE in October 2016. However, the West Indies have thrice toured Pakistan since April 2018 - once for the ODI series (June 2022) and twice for the T20I series (April 2018 and December 2021).Tour schedule:10-12 January – three-day match vs Pakistan Shaheens, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium17-21 January – first Test, Multan Cricket Stadium25-29 January – second Test, Multan Cricket Stadium.

Rawalpindi (SBR): A sparking hundred from opener Yasir Ali and another brilliant bowling display by Mohammad Ali guided ABL Stallions to Bahria Town Champions T20 Cup title with a thumping 75-run win over UMT Markhors in the final at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday evening.Yasir cracked a 57-ball 100 with seven towering sixes and five boundaries to propel Stallions to 199-5 in 20 overs before Ali destroyed Markhors with 3-19 restricting them to 124 all out in 19.1 overs. Stallions have added another title in Pakistan’s T20 history while UMT Markhors have lost their second final, having also lost the Champions Cup one-day final in Faisalabad in September this year.Chasing a daunting 200-run target, Markhors lost wickets at regular intervals. They relied heavily on Fakhar Zaman who failed to follow up his belligerent 89 in the Qualifiers, falling for 20 to Jahandad Khan who finished with 2-31. Spinner Usman Tariq took 2-10 in his four tight overs.Mohammad Faizan smashed three sixes and as many fours in his 33-ball 43 while skipper Iftikhar Ahmed scored 21-ball 22. Markhors' promising players Abdul Samad and Saad Masood failed to score that summed up their team’s below-par batting. It was Yasir all the way in ABL Stallions’ innings after they opted to bat with an idea to put a solid total on the board.Maaz Sadaqat hit the first ball of the innings from Mohammad Nawaz for a six while Yasir smashed two more maximums to show clear intentions. Pacer Akif Javed, pick of the bowlers with 2-32, dismissed Maaz in the third over to bring UMT Markhors back in the match.UMT Markhors had an ideal opportunity to get Yasir out on 12 but Akif Javed dropped a skier off Nisar Ahmed and it cost them dearly. Yasir benefitted with smashing ways, adding 41 for the second wicket with skipper Mohammad Haris whose 15-ball 21 had two sixes. Hussain Talat managed just nine, while Tayyab Tahir scored 17 runs.Yasir, the 22-year-old from Bannu in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reached his half-century off 33 balls with a six off Nawaz and then lifted the tempo. From 88 he smashed two sixes to reach his second T20 century off 56 balls. He later holed out off Mohammad Faizan.Jahandad Khan cracked two sixes and a boundary in his ten-ball 22 not out to get Stallions to 199-5 in 20 overs. Ali finished as the top bowler with 22 wickets, admirably starring in his team’s triumph in the tournament.

Islamabad (Sports Desk): England Men's Test captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of all cricket for at least three months after further assessments confirmed he has torn his left hamstring. The Durham all-rounder will undergo surgery in January. The injury occurred during the third Test in Hamilton, during England's recent 2-1 Test series victory in the New Zealand.