Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report Melbourne (AUS): The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is well underway, with the Super-12 stage of the event starting on Saturday and Pakistan taking on India in their opener in Melbourne on Sunday. Last year’s beaten semi-finalists have an outstanding record in the Men’s T20 World Cup and find themselves right among the favourites again this time around in Australia. And ahead of their Super-12 opener against rivals India on Sunday – we look at the Pakistan team in focus. 2022 prospects Pakistan have been drawn in Group 2 of the Super-12, alongside India, South Africa, Bangladesh. They have also been joined by Zimbabwe and the Netherlands from the group stage. In order to back up last year’s efforts, where they suffered defeat to eventual winners Australia in the semi-final, they will need to finish in the top two of their group. They come into the tournament in form though, winning four of their five matches in the tri-series with New Zealand and Bangladesh. Prior to the series in Christchurch, they ultimately suffered a 4-3 defeat in the seven-match T20 series with England. There is no doubt that Pakistan will be among the front-runners and will be expecting to advance past the Super-12 and into the semi-finals once again – although clashes with South Africa and India will be tough. T20 World Cup history Pakistan’s Men’s T20 World Cup history is nothing short of outstanding, reaching the semi-finals in five of the seven editions. They reached the final of the inaugural competition in South Africa in 2007, losing by just five runs to India after Gautam Gambhir’s 75 inspired the Indian side to victory. Two years later, they were the side lifting the trophy, with Shahid Afridi’s unbeaten 54 and Abdul Razzaq’s three for 20 seeing Pakistan to an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Despite their excellent record, that is the last time Pakistan reached the final, suffering back-to-back semi-final defeats in 2010 and 2012 against Australia and Sri Lanka, respectively. The 2014 World Cup saw Pakistan miss out on the semi-finals for the first time, and in 2016 they again missed out, meaning a long five-year wait until last year’s tournament in the UAE and Oman – in which they reached their first semi-final in nine years, but despite Mohammad Rizwan’s 67 and Shadab Khan’s four for 26, they endured yet another semi-final defeat at the hands of Australia. Best batters There are no prizes for guessing Pakistan’s best batter, as he is also the world’s best batter, with Rizwan sitting on top of the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings. Averaging a phenomenal 52.34, Rizwan has one hundred and 22 fifties from just 62 innings, with a recent 69 in the win over Bangladesh last week showcasing his form heading into the T20 World Cup. That bodes well for the Super-12, with Pakistan facing Bangladesh, while against their other key opponents in the Super-12, India and South Africa, Rizwan averages an outrageous 96.5 and 62.16 respectively. Rizwan has formed what is surely the best opening batting pairing in world cricket with Babar Azam, who himself sits third in the current ICC T20I Player Rankings. Pakistan’s captain averages 43.66, slightly less than Rizwan, but he has racked up two hundreds and 29 fifties and like Rizwan, comes into the World Cup in excellent form, scoring 55 in that victory over Bangladesh, while also scoring his second T20 international hundred against England, scoring 110 as Rizwan hit 88 not out in a ten-wicket victory. Best bowlers Pakistan may have two of the best batters on the planet, but they are not short of outstanding bowling as New Zealand and Bangladesh recently found out. Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan are two to really keep an eye on, but there is plenty of bowling in the Pakistan line-up, with Mohammad Wasim and Mohammad Nawaz in particular on top form in recent weeks and Shaheen Shah Afridi coming back from injury for this tournament. Haris is a man who will strike fear into top order batters around the globe though, averaging just 23.03 and taking 64 wickets in his 50 matches, but he is joined by Pakistan’s extraordinary young all-rounder Shadab. Just 24, Shadab has already been a major part of the Pakistan team with both bat and ball for a number of years, taking 87 wickets at an average of 22.29 since his debut five years ago and he is once again going to be a key member of the side, with his leg breaks proving incredibly effective.

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI: All-rounder Aamir Jamal recorded his first-class career’s second five-wicket haul on the first day of the fifth round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23 returning five for 38 for Northern against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. The right-armer accounted for Kamran Ghulam, Adil Amin, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi, Imran Khan Snr and Irfanullah Shah as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were bowled out for 175 in just 38.5 overs. Northern captain’s decision to not to contest the toss and opt for bowling paid dividends as the top-score in the innings was only 35 from opener Waqar Ahmed. Northern’s Athar Mehmood took three wickets for 95. Northern, who already dominate the six-team points table, bagged six points (three for bowling out the opposition inside 100 overs and other three for restricting them under 200). At the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Balochistan were 256 for five in 83.3 overs against Sindh as Imran Butt (60), Haseebullah (57 not out), Hussain Talat (54 not out) and Haris Sohail (50) scored half-centuries. The pair of Haseebullah and Hussain had put together 108-run stand for the sixth wicket by stumps. Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed was amongst the wicket-takers once again. He took three wickets for 93 and Ghulam Mudassar had taken two wickets for 69. The first day of the Punjab Derby at the Multan Cricket Stadium saw Faheem Ashraf and Azhar Ali score half-centuries after Southern Punjab elected to bowl. Faheem Ashraf was unbeaten on 67, while Azhar made 61 before he was dismissed by Mohammad Sadaqat. Sadaqat and Mohammad Ilyas took two wickets each as Central Punjab were 244 for six after 79 overs. Scores in brief: Toss uncontested – Northern opt to field against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 175, 38.5 overs (Waqar Ahmed 35, Sajid Khan 27, Imran Khan Snr 25, Sahibzada Farhan 21, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 20; Aamir Jamal 5-38, Athar Mehmood 3-95) Toss uncontested – Sindh elect to opt against Balochistan at the Pindi Cricket Stadium Balochistan 256-5, 83.3 overs (Imran Butt 60, Haseebullah 57 not out, Hussain Talat 54 not out, Haris Sohail 50; Abrar Ahmed 3-93, Ghulam Mudassar 2-69) Toss uncontested – Southern Punjab opt to field against Central Punjab at the Multan Cricket Stadium Central Punjab 244-6, 79 overs (Faheem Ashraf 67 not out, Azhar Ali 61, Mohammad Saad 44; Mohammad Ilyas 2-41, Mohammad Sadaqat 2-52)

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI: The fifth round action of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23 will commence from tomorrow, 21 October, at three different venues of the country with Northern leading the table with 68 points. Defending champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are sitting at the bottom with 26 points. In the fifth round, Northern will take on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. At the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, fourth-placed Balochistan will take on second-placed Sindh. This match will be live-streamed on PCB YouTube channel. The third fixture of the round will be a Punjab derby, Central Punjab – who occupy the third spot – will take on fifth-placed Southern Punjab. Central Punjab’s right-handed batter Tayyab Tahir leads the batting chart with 449 runs from four matches at an average of 112.25. Tayyab has struck three centuries, which included 39 fours and 11 sixes. Tayyab’s teammate Abdullah Shafique, who has represented Pakistan in 11 international matches, is second on the batting chart, scoring 412 runs from four outings in the tournament at an average of 82.40. Abdullah has till date struck one century and two half-centuries in the tournament. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Sahibzada Farhan and Northern’s Faizan Riaz are the other two batters to score 400 runs in the competition so far. In the bowling chart, Sindh’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed leads the roster with 20 scalps from two matches. He has one four-fer and three five-fers from the four innings with six for 100 being his best figures in an innings this season. He was the standout bowler for Sindh in their comprehensive 10-wicket win over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the fourth round match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Abrar’s teammate left-arm fast Mir Hamza occupies the third spot with 13 wickets from three matches. Between Abrar and Hamza is Northern’s right-arm off-spinner Mubasir Khan, who has taken 17 wickets from four games including a four-fer. Meanwhile, three matches in the fifth round of Cricket Associations Championship will also be played from tomorrow at three different venues in Karachi. Central Punjab continue to lead the points table with 75 points, bagging three wins from four outings. They will take on fourth-placed Southern Punjab at the NBP Sports Complex. Second-placed Sindh (59 points) will square off against third-placed Balochistan (55 points) at the KCCA Stadium. The two sides ranked at the bottom – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Northern will play against each other at the UBL Sports Complex. Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (fifth round matches, 21-24 October): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Northern, Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad Central Punjab v Southern Punjab, Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan Balochistan v Sindh, Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Sports Report Melbourne: Australia have made only one change to the squad that emerged victorious in 2021 and will aim to become the first team to retain the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. That brings Tim David into the fray, a burly Singapore-born batter who hit 16 of the 86 balls he faced in the IPL in 2022 for six. Finch has largely used him at six in the early days of his T20 international career, marking a subtle shift in orthodoxy that has seen power hitters traditionally placed high in the order. There is no place for all-rounder Cameron Green, a selection call that has raised eyebrows, with Australia placing faith in some of the world’s greatest multi-format players. They rightly sit among the favourites to win the whole thing with conditions suiting them down to the ground and home crowds squarely behind them. T20 World Cup history Australia didn’t start well at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. As reigning Men’s Cricket World Cup champions, their first game ended in five-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe. They recovered to make the semi-finals and their turbulent relationship with T20 continued with a group-stage exit in 2009. Australia were well beaten by rivals England in the 2010 final and reached the semi-finals in 2012, always in contention but never quite managing to produce the complete knockout performance. It looked like they had been left behind by the rest of the world when they failed to navigate the Super 10 in both 2014 and 2016 but a rousing run to the final last year wiped the slate clean. Best batters Why not start with David Warner, whose three half-centuries and 289 runs were pivotal to the 2021 triumph? This month Warner smacked 75 against West Indies and 73 against England to suggest he is rounding into form once again. The batting order is finely balanced between power and poise, with skipper Finch offering a steady hand on the tiller and Matthew Wade one of the finest finishers in the game. They will hope to see an upturn in fortunes for Glenn Maxwell and that David comes off on major event debut. Best bowlers Australia’s gun-pace attack has reinvented itself in the T20 format with the outstanding Pat Cummins capable of taking the ball in any given situation. Josh Hazelwood and Mitchell Starc combine to form a peerless battery that will make merry on fast, bouncy surfaces. Concerns remain over the spin bowling department and an over-reliance on Adam Zampa. Finch’s plans will be tested if teams manage to hit the leg-spinner out of the attack.

Sports Bulletin Report Kabul (Afghanistan): Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed that the National Team would tour Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series in late November. The three ODIs, which are part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League 2023, are scheduled for the 25th, 27th & 30th of November in PKICS, Kandy. The tour, which was initially scheduled to be played in February 2023, was shifted to the new schedule as the international cricket calendars of the two nations enabled the change. ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf: “We are pleased with the outcomes of our discussions and negotiations with Sri Lanka Cricket on shifting the schedule to November this year. We are looking forward to playing Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, which is a heavy task but a challenge that I know our players will embrace”. Afghanistan has played 12 matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, having won 10 games out of them, and is currently placed 7th in the table. Both teams are currently part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, with Sri Lanka having already started their campaign in the first round of the event alongside Namibia, UAE and the Netherlands in group A. Series Schedule 25th November 2022 1st ODI PKICS, Kandy 27th November 2022 2nd ODI PKICS, Kandy 30th November 2022 3rd ODI PKICS, Kandy

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI: Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed continued to make headlines when he bowled Sindh to a sensational 10-wicket victory over defending champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) on the fourth and last day of the fourth round Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23 in front of PCB cameras. Abrar, the bespectacled 24-year-old Karachi-born spinner, followed up his first innings figures of 39.2-9-130-4 with 19-9-29-5 as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were mesmerised and spun out for a paltry 108 in 46.2 overs at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Sindh achieved the three-run victory target in the first over to notched up their first victory of the season. Earlier, Sindh, replying to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first innings score of 384, were dismissed after adding one run to their overnight score of 489 for nine to earn a 106-run first innings lead. But as the match appeared to head for a draw, Abrar demonstrated why he is one of the finest and highly-rated spinner in the circuit when he bamboozled the middle-order that slipped from 38 for one to 108 all-out. Abrar accounted for Sahibzada Farhan (12), Kamran Ghulam (0), Nabi Gul (4), Arshadullah (6) and Imran Khan Snr (4). This was Abrar’s second match of the season. In his opening match against ATF Southern Punjab, Abrar had recorded match figures of 11 for 194. Abrar now has 20 wickets in two matches, with Sindh’s fifth round match against Balochistan at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Overall, Abrar has claimed 53 wickets in nine first-class matches. Abrar was well supported by Mohammad Umar, who claimed three wickets for 17 runs to finish the match with seven for 104. At the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, Central Punjab’s Ahmad Safi Abdullah returned figures of 50-12-132-6 but his side’ match against Northern ended into a high-scoring draw. Northern, replying to Central Punjab’s 509 for nine declared and resuming at 425 for four, were 651 for nine when match ended. Northern’s Sarmad Bhatti, who had started the day at 102, was dismissed after scoring 140 (345 balls, 15x4), while Mubasir Khan, who was 70 overnight, scored 79 (127 balls, 10x4, 1x6). On Tuesday, Aamir Jamal scored 80 not out (146 balls, 11x4, 1x6) and Nauman Ali contributed 69 (102 balls, 11x4) as the two batters added 120 runs for the eighth wicket. At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, the match between Balochistan and ATF Southern Punjab also ended in a draw. After securing a 16-run first innings lead and resuming the day at 36 for one, Balochistan were 295 for six when play ended. Haris Sohail was 133 not out, his 14th first-class century, and added 106 runs for the fifth wicket with Husain Talat (31). Haris, who faced 188 balls and struck 16 fours and four sixes, also put on 47 runs for the fourth wicket with Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (65). Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (fourth round, day four): Sindh beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by 10 wickets at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 384, 115.2 overs (Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 148, Kamran Ghulam 93, Sahibzada Farhan 53, Rehan Afridi 47; Mohammad Umar 4-87, Abrar Ahmed 4-130, Mir Hamza 2-51) and 108 all-out (Ashfaq Ahmed 37, Rehan Afridi 28; Abrar Ahmed 5-29, Mohammad Umar 3-17) Sindh (overnight 489-9) 490 all-out, 138 overs (Khurram Manzoor 116, Saud Shakeel 105, Omair Bin Yousuf 105, Mohammad Hasan 47 not out, Saim Ayub 42, Asif Mahmood 31; Ihsanullah 3-109, Sajid Khan 3-127) and 4-0 Match points: Sindh 21 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 4 Central Punjab drew with Northern at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Central Punjab 509-9d, 140 overs (Azhar Ali 219, Tayyab Tahir 114, Ali Shan 55, Abdullah Shafique 32, Mohammad Saad 27; Mehran Mumtaz 3-111, Nauman Ali 3-173, Mubasir Khan 2-76) Northern (overnight 425-4) 651-9d, 197.1 overs (Sarmad Bhatti 140, Aamir Jamal 80 not out, Mubasir Khan 79, Faizan Riaz 74, Nauman Ali 69, Umar Amin 68, Mohammad Huraira 62; Ahmed Safi Abdullah 6-132) Match points: Central Punjab 10 Northern 9 ATF Southern Punjab drew with Balochistan at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium Balochistan 346, 127 overs (Asad Shafiq 106, Ali Waqas 45, Haris Sohail 37, Haseebullah 33, Imran Butt 30, Khurram Shahzad 26 not out; Sameen Gul 5-84, Muhammad Imran Randhawa 3-75) and 295-6 (Haris Sohail 133 not out, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 65, Husain Talat 31, Imran Butt 24, Mohammad Imran Randhawa 2-43, Sameen Gul 2-46) ATF Southern Punjab 330, 96.5 overs (Usman Salahuddin 88, Sharoon Siraj 73, Mohammad Imran Randhawa 53, Salman Ali Agha 44; Najeebullah Achakzai 5-90, Kashif Bhatti 2-78, Khurram Shehzad 2-83) Match points: Balochistan 10 ATF Southern Punjab 9

Sports Bulletin Report Houston (USA): National Championship Major League Tape-ball Cricket Tournament will start from November 10, 2022 at ISA Stadium Houston, Texas United States of America (USA) with mammoth prize money of US$ 50,000. President US Tape-ball Cricket, Aamir Siddique, the teams from all over the USA will participate in the 4-day national tapeball cricket tournament. It will be an entertaining cricket festival, as the different stalls will also established on this occasion. 20 players of national team will be selected after Major League.  

Sports Bulletin Report Houston (USA): Amongst Vibrant colors, mesmerizing sounds, on a pleasant evening in lush of greenery, with multi-sensory celebration of culture and sport in everyone’s heart, in presence of huge fan fare, John Paul Landing Cricket Grounds are declared open on October 15th 2022. HP CFO Marie Myers graced the event as the chief guest for the opening ceremony. Other distinguished guests include Kuljit Singh Nijjar(USA cricket board member), Former HCL President Yogesh Patel, Current HCL President Gaurav Tripathi, Our key sponsor Kalyan Chivukula, Harris County Precinct 4 leaders, former international cricket players Golam Nowsher and Jalal uddin, youth coaches, youth club leaders, players, parents and other community leaders. Commissioner Cagle, Our Guest of honor, who has been a strong pillar of support and instrumental in our vision come to reality, couldn’t attend in person but sent his message via a video link. Bill Jackson (Head of parks department), Harris County attended the event and shared his thoughts with all of us. On this occasion, Marie Myers, did the honor of ribbon cutting and opened new pitch for playing cricket. She spoke about her experience with Cricket, importance of growing the game of cricket in USA, support of cricket for girls and HP’s constant support to cricket and other community activities. She unveiled the blueprint of expansion plans of JPL and NYCT-2022 Houston jerseys.

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI: Najeebullah Achakzai took a five-fer for the first time in his career to help Balochistan grab a 16-run first innings lead against ATF Southern Punjab, while Saud Shakeel and Omair Bin Yousuf stroked their second centuries of the tournament to help Sindh earn first-innings lead points against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on day three of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on Monday. At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, 31-year-old Najeebullah, who played four matches in his maiden season last year, recorded figures of 23.5-0-90-5 in his first game of this season to skittle out ATF Southern Punjab for 330 after they had resumed this morning at 109 for two in reply to Balochistan’s 346. When play ended, Balochistan had reached 36 for one. Najeebullah accounted for Umar Siddiq (17), Sharoon Siraj (73), Mohammad Imran Randhawa (53), Ali Usman (8) and Ahmed Bashir (0). While Sharoon’s 132-ball 73 included 12 fours, Usman Salahuddin was the innings’ top scorer with 88 (184 balls, 10x4). Usman had started the day at 32, while Sharoon began at 46. At the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Sindh secured a 105-run first innings lead over defending champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following centuries by captain Saud Shakeel and Omair Bin Yousuf. On Sunday, opener Khurram Manzoor had hit a rapid 130-ball 116 to provide his side a solid start. Saud, who started the day at 43 and Omair, who began at 5, scored 105 runs apiece and put on 144 runs for the third wicket after Sindh had resumed their innings at 214 for two in reply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s 384. Saud faced 251 balls and hit 13 fours in his second century of the season and 13th overall, while Omair hit eight fours and a six in his 216 innings. It was also Omair’s second successive century of this year’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and seventh in 32nd match. Later in the innings, Mohammad Hasan (47) and Asif Mahmood (31) added 60 runs for the seventh wicket to help Sindh finish the day at 489 for nine. For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Test off-spinner Sajid Khan picked up three for 127, while Ihsanullah added one more wicket to his overnight tally to finish with three for 108. At the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, an unbeaten century by Sarmad Bhatti and half-centuries by Faizan Riaz, Mubasir Khan and Umar Amin took Northern to 425 for four in reply to Central Punjab’s 509 for nine declared. Northern had commenced their day at 107 for one. Sarmad was batting on 102, his seventh career century and first of the season, and with him was Mubasir Khan, who was 70 not out. Sarmad has faced 217 balls and hit 11 fours, while Mubasir’s 97-ball innings includes 10 fours and a six as the two batters have put on 124 runs for the unfinished fifth wicket. Huraira added nine more runs to his overnight score and was dismissed for 62, while Umar scored 68 after beginning the day at 35. Faizan Riaz, who had stroked a double-century in the previous match, was out after scoring a 167-ball 74 with nine fours. Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (fourth round, day three): Central Punjab vs Northern at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad Central Punjab 509-9d, 140 overs (Azhar Ali 219, Tayyab Tahir 114, Ali Shan 55, Abdullah Shafique 32, Mohammad Saad 27; Mehran Mumtaz 3-111, Nauman Ali 3-173, Mubasir Khan 2-76) Northern 425-4 (overnight 107-1) (Sarmad Bhatti 102 not out, Faizan Riaz 74, Mubasir Khan 70 not out, Umar Amin 68, Mohammad Huraira 62; Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-95) Sindh vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 384, 115.2 overs (Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 148, Kamran Ghulam 93, Sahibzada Farhan 53, Rehan Afridi 47; Mohammad Umar 4-87, Abrar Ahmed 4-130, Mir Hamza 2-51) Sindh (overnight 214-2) 489-9, 137 overs (Khurram Manzoor 116, Saud Shakeel 105, Omair Bin Yousuf 105, Mohammad Hasan 47, Saim Ayub 42, Asif Mahmood 31; Ihsanullah 3-108, Sajid Khan 3-127) ATF Southern Punjab vs Balochistan at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium Balochistan 346, 127 overs (Asad Shafiq 106, Ali Waqas 45, Haris Sohail 37, Haseebullah 33, Imran Butt 30, Khurram Shahzad 26 not out; Sameen Gul 5-84, Mohammad Imran Randhawa 3-75) and 36 for one ATF Southern Punjab (overnight 109-2) 330, 96.5 overs (Usman Salahuddin 88, Sharoon Siraj 73, Mohammad Imran Randhawa 53, Salman Ali Agha 44; Najeebullah Achakzai 5-90, Kashif Bhatti 2-78, Khurram Shehzad 2-83)

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Pakistan will host Bangladesh U19 for one four-day and five one-day matches from 4 November till 18 November. Bangladesh will arrive in Pakistan on 1 November and famous Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad will stage the six matches. The tour will begin with the four-day game from 4 November. The five limited overs (45-over) matches will be played between 10-18 November. Bangladesh U19 last toured in November 2007 – which was also the last international U19 tour to the country. The two teams played a four-day match at the National Stadium, Karachi, which ended in a draw, while the tourists won the five 50-over matches– played across Hyderabad and Karachi - 3-2. As per the ICC’s eligibility criteria for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024, players born on or after 31 August 2004 will be eligible to get selected. Bangladesh will be first junior team and fourth international cricket team to visit Pakistan in 2022 after Australia, West Indies and England senior men’s sides toured earlier this year. Zakir Khan, PCB Director – International Cricket: “2022 has been all about hosting international teams and in this relation, we look forward to welcoming Bangladesh U19 side. While this will be the first junior international series in Pakistan in 15 years, third time in as many years Bangladesh will send their side to Pakistan following their women’s tour in November 2019 and the men’s team for a Test in February 2020. “The U19 series comprising a four-day and five limited-over matches will provide opportunities to players from either side to showcase their skills and earn the nod of their coaches and selectors.