Abdullah MasoodFAISALABAD: Lahore Sikandars got rid of Peshawar Lions by 1 runs in a nerve-jangling final of the Interloop Wheelchair Pakistan Champions Cricket League 2024 here at a local cricket ground.Defending champions Lahore Sikandars posted a competitive 218 for 7, thanks to Sajid Khan's blistering unbeaten 86 off 43 balls. Mohammad Faiz contributed a valuable 47 runs, while Rafaqat Hussain scored 27. Captain Zulfikar Swati, Mishal Khan, Gohar Afridi, and Qayyum Rajpoot each claimed a wicket.In response, Peshawar Lions' Gohar Afridi's magnificent century went unrewarded as they ended with 217 for 6. Mishal Khan scored 30, and Azmat Shah made 24, while Zawar Khan snapped up two wickets. Mohammad Faiz, Sajid Khan, and Ahsan each took a wicket.Sajid Khan was deservedly named Man of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance. Misshal Khan of Peshawar topped the tournament's run-scorers with an impressive 279 runs, while Mohammad Faiz and Zawar Khan of Lahore Sikandars shared the top spot with seven wickets apiece.

England earn unassailable lead, as hosts Women beat Pakistan Women by 65 runsSports Bulletin ReportNorthampton (England): England Women beat Pakistan Women by 65 runs in the second T20I at Northampton to take the unassailable 2-0 lead.Pakistan restricted England to 144-6 as skipper Nida Dar led from front taking two wickets and also becoming the leading wicket-taker (137) in Women’s T20Is. In return, Pakistan could only manage 79 all out in 15.5 overs as English spinners Sophie Ecclestone (3-11), Alice Capsey (2-4) and Sarah Glenn (2-10) shared seven wickets among each other. Pakistan found themselves in trouble early in pursuit of the 145-run target after Lauren Bell removed Gell Feroza (3, 7b) and Sadaf Shamas (0, 4b) cheaply. Muneeba Ali raced to 18 off 12 before falling to Ecclestone as Pakistan finished the powerplay with 41-3.Leg spinner Glenn pinned Nida leg before in the seventh over to leave Pakistan reeling. Aliya Riaz injected some aggression into the innings as she hit three boundaries in a space of six balls racing to 16 off 10. Sidra (11, 16b, 2x4s) was run out after a mix-up with Aliya in the middle to disrupt the 19-run partnership. At the halfway mark, Pakistan stood 66-5 but only managed 13 more runs before getting bundled out for 79 in 15. 5 overs.Earlier, after England opted to bat first, Waheeda Akhtar castled Danni Wyatt in the third over. Capsey unleashed a flurry of boundaries in the fifth over against Waheeda ransacking 20 runs. England finished the powerplay with 48-1. The duo of Maia Bouchier and Capsey stitched a 49-run second-wicket stand after Bouchier was run out courtesy of a brilliant throw from Diana Baig. Nida struck to get Capsey (31, 33b, 5x4s) stumped in the 12th over. Nat Sciver-Brunt provided the much-needed impetus to England’s innings as she raced to 31 off 20 hitting six boundaries before falling to Sadia Iqbal. Heather Knight struggled during her eight-ball stay in the middle as she holed out to Waheeda at long-off.Nida, bowling the last over, dismissed Amy Jones (15, 14b, 1x4) to bag the milestone wicket. Danielle Gibson (18 not out, 9b, 2x4s, 1x6) belted a six and a four off the last two balls to help England reach 144-6 in 20 overs. Apart from Nida’s two scalps, Waheeda, Sadia and Diana bagged one each.

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Pakistan Under-12 tennis team comprising Mohammad Shayan Afridi, Mohammad Junaid Khan, Rashid Ali Bachani along with non-playing captain Mohammad Abid-Captain left Islamabad for Nepal to participate in the  ATF U12 Team Competition Regional Qualifying fixture of South Asia, which is scheduled to be played from May 20 to 24, 2024 at Kathmandu Nepal.According to an official of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), besides Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka will fight for top honour.Captain Mohammad Abid said: "We are fully prepared for the competition. Our team is strong, and we will try to come back as victorious. InshaAllah"

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Ahsan Iqbal, inaugurated the National Conference on Revival of Sports here on Friday, and emphasized the government’s commitment in improving Pakistan’s sports landscape.Declaring 2025 as the year of sports revival in Pakistan, the minister expressed his determination to take Pakistan’s sports to new heights. “All-out efforts are being made to improve Pakistan’s sports,” he said.The minister highlighted the importance of the conference in reviving and improving sports in the country. “Victory is not won on the field of play, but it has to be planted in the mind,” he said here at a local hotel.He pledged to provide comprehensive support to Pakistan’s talented athletes, saying that the country has immense talent. The aim of today’s conference is to offer broad-based support to these athletes, he said.Ahsan announced several initiatives to promote sports, including the preparation of 2028 Olympics, promotion of institutional sports, and establishment of an endowment fund for players. He also mentioned the installation of astro-turfs to highlight sports from the grassroots level.The minister said Pakistanis were second to none in the world in terms of intelligence and hard work. However, he was of the view that despite having a population of 250 million, Pakistan failed to qualify for even five sports in the Olympics.Ending doping in sports in Pakistan is a top priority, he stressed, adding that despite funds being allocated for National Games in 2016 and 2017, the event did not take place.Ahsan said that he was imprisoned in the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for building Narowal Sports City. “Sports should be kept away from politics,” he said.Ahsan also criticized the previous PTI government for dismantling departmental sports structures, which had harmed the development of sports. He said he will also write a letter to all departments to restore sports within a week. We plan to build seven astro turfs for hockey, four of which have already been completed.The minister also highlighted the achievements of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, including ending load shedding and terrorism, and bringing peace to the country.He also highlighted PML-N’s government’s achievements in resolving the energy crisis, combating terrorism, and restoring lights of Karachi.Ahsan also emphasized the need for sports revival in Pakistan, saying that a nation’s character is reflected in its sports. “If a nation is labeled as thieves, bandits, or corrupt, then that nation is defeated,” he said.He highlighted the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and drew a comparison with the development of sports infrastructure. Germany built 400 squash courts in one year, while Pakistan built only four in the same timeframe.Looking ahead to 2047, when Pakistan and India will mark 100 years of their independence, he said, India has made significant strides in sports but expressed his determination to create a new chapter of development in Pakistan sports.“We must invest in our youth and sports infrastructure to create a vibrant sports culture in Pakistan. This is crucial for building a positive image of our nation and promoting national unity and pride.”He said that Pakistan will host the South Asian Games in 2025 and aims to become one of the top ten economies in the world, including the sports sector. He also revealed plans to hire foreign coaches to develop sports in Pakistan.With a renewed focus on sports development, Pakistan aims to reclaim its position as a sporting nation and inspire a new generation of athletes and citizens alike. The conference brought together sports officials, athletes, and other stakeholders to discuss ways to revive Pakistan’s sports sector. (SBR)

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Hosts and Turkmenistan have moved into the final after beating their respective rivals in the last league matches of the Central Asian Volleyball League (CAVL) at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Thursday. Final will be played on May 17, 2024 at the same venue.Names of Pakistan Players: Mohammad Hamid, Waleed Khan, Usman Faryad Ali, Aimal Khan, Fakhar-ud-Din, Murad Khan, Mohammad Kashif Naveed, Abdul Zaheer, Murad Jehan, Afaq Khan, Musawer Khan, Nasir Ali, Ali Haider, Mohammad Yasin. Results (May 16, 2024):Kyrgyzstan Beat Afghanistan (3-0) 25-20, 25-20, 25-19Turkmenistan beat Sri Lanka (3-0) 25-22, 25-19, 25-19Pakistan beat Iran (3-1) 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20 

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Bahawalpur defeated Peshawar to qualify for the Grade-1 final of the SAF Disability T20 Cricket Championship, organized by the Pakistan Physical Disability Cricket Association and Shahid Afridi Foundation. Bahawalpur defeated Peshawar by 22 runs in the first match, at the Race Course Park Ground Lahore on Thursday. Bahawalpur scored 140 runs for four wickets while playing first. Mohammad Nauman scored 68 runs with the help of 10 fours off 63 balls and Mohammad Shehzad scored 27 runs with the help of four fours. Abid Hussain scored 19 runs and Wasim Mirza scored 14 runs. Niaz Ali Shah took two wickets.In response, the Peshawar team got out after scoring 118 runs in 17.2 overs, Atif Khan scored 31 runs with the help of five fours and Nihar Alam scored 27 runs with the help of three fours. Abdul Khaliq took three wickets, Abid Hussain and Mohammad Asif took two wickets each while Mohammad Nauman got one wicket. Mohammad Nauman was declared the player of the match and was awarded by regional head Multan Bahawalpur Jameel Kamran. In the second match, Lahore overwhelmed Islamabad by a huge margin of 124 runs. Lahore scored 224 runs for five wickets while playing first. Mohammad Shehbaz played a brilliant innings of 121 runs with the help of 13 fours and eight sixes on 48 balls while Shahid Ali Vatto scored 37 runs. Hammad Shawkat took two wickets, while Waqif Shah, Zubair Khan, and Sakih Khan took one wicket each. In response, Islamabad scored 100 runs in 14.2 overs. Adil Mehmood 32, Waqif Shah 17, and Usman Paracha were prominent with 16 runs. Abdullah Ijaz took three wickets, Niaz and Zeeshan Ali took two wickets while Arsalan, Maqsood, and Shahid Ali Vito got one wicket each. Former first-class cricketer Mahmood Rasheed gave the Player of the Match award to century-maker Mohammad Shehbaz. On this occasion, Regional Head Islamabad Mohammad Tahir and Mohammad Nizam were also present.

Green Shirts thrash Kyrgyzstan in straight games 3-0 to confirm their berth in finalSports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Hosts Pakistan inked a new record in the history of Pakistan volleyball after winning four international matches continuously, as Green Shirts trounced Kyrgyzstan by 3-0 in the Central Asian Volleyball League (CAVL) at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Wednesday.Results:Pakistan beat Kyrgyzstan (3-0) 25-18, 27-25, 27-25Sri Lanka beat Iran (3-0) 25-22, 25-17, 25-21Turkmenistan beat Afghanistan (3-1) 18-25, 33-31, 25-17, 25-17.Names of Pakistan Players: Mohammad Hamid, Waleed Khan, Usman Faryad Ali, Aimal Khan, Fakhar-ud-Din, Murad Khan, Mohammad Kashif Naveed, Abdul Zaheer, Murad Jehan, Afaq Khan, Musawer Khan, Nasir Ali, Ali Haider, Mohammad Yasin.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Bahawalpur and Islamabad won their matches on the second day of the second phase of the Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) Disability T20 Cricket Championship after beating their respective opponents here at Race Course Park Ground on Wednesday.Lahore Disability Cricket Team scored 117 runs in 17.2 overs. Yasir Iqbal scored 33 runs with 6 fours and Mohammad Shehbaz was the leading scorer with 27 runs with 4 fours. Waseem Mirza dismissed five players.In response, Bahawalpur scored 120 runs for the loss of one wicket in 14.3 overs and won the match by 9 wickets. Mohammad Nauman scored an unbeaten 72 off 47 balls with 13 fours and Mohammad Shahzad hit four fours and one six, and added 32 runs. Abdullah Ejaz got the only wicket. Waseem Mirza was awarded the man of the match award by special Sheikh Naeem Chief Executive City for getting five wickets.In the other match, Islamabad beat Peshawar by five wickets. Playing first, Peshawar scored 111 runs in 18.1 overs. Beharullah 29, Wasim Shah 18, Ihtsha Mohammad Khan 14, and Atif Khan were prominent with 10 runs. Hammad Shaukat scored 20 runs and Waqif Shah scored 23 runs. Three wickets were taken while Zubair Khan got two and Mohammad Bilal got one out. In response, Islamabad scored 115 runs for five wickets in 19.1 overs. Defeated by 42 and Adil Mehmood scored 25 runs with the help of two fours and a six. Mohammad Haroon scored 14 runs and Syed Ministry scored 11 runs. Nihar Alam, Usama Khan, and Niaz Ali Shah took one wicket each. Special guest Regional Head Islamabad Mohammad Tahir named Salman Ahmed as the player of the match. Peshawar captain Nahar Alam, Mohammad Nizam, and others were also present on the occasion of the off-match award. Thursday’s fixture:Bahawalpur will face LahoreIslamabad will face Peshawar

ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk): The FIFA Council today approved the formation of a working group to gather further information and issue recommendations to the Council regarding potential amendments to the FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches (FRGIM).The working group will consist of 10 to 15 members from a variety of different football stakeholders, including representatives from member associations, confederations, clubs, leagues, players, supporter organisations, and also private entities engaged in organising international matches or competitions. The FIFA Council anticipates that the working group will make its recommendations in the following months.The primary objective of the working group will be to study the FRGIM and the press release issued following the October 2018 FIFA Council meeting regarding out-of-territory matches (cf. art 8.2 of the FRGIM), and to consider a revised legal framework at FIFA level dealing with i) rules, procedures and processes for authorising interclub football matches or competitions, and ii) criteria to be applied for authorising such matches or competitions. While the working group will independently formulate its own recommendations, the FIFA Council has requested that it base its proposals on the principles of transparency, objectivity, non-discrimination and proportionality, taking into account the following, non-exhaustive factors in making its recommendations:Fairness, including adequacy of advance notice to fans who may miss the opportunity to attend a home or away match in the home territory. Whether adequate provision has been made for fans of the teams playing a proposed out-of-territory match to attend the match in the host country.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Duo of national tennis lads, Mohammad Shoaib, and Yousaf Khalil have confirmed their berth in the Pakistan Davis Cup team after showing acceptable performances in the trials, which were held at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex Garden Avenue from May 9 to 13, 2024.According to an official of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), trials were held to select a couple of players for the national team, as the veterans Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan were exempted form the trials proceeding. Also, Ahmad Nael Qureshi has been selected for the team directly, based on his recent exceptional performances in the national and international junior tournaments.As many as 10 players including 6 men, 2 juniors, and 2 wildcards were invited for the trials after analyzing their performances in the current PTF ranking. Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi President-PTF and Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail Secretary-General-PTF congratulated the selected players, wished them good luck, and advised them to display their best tennis. In the next Davis Cup Tie Pakistan will meet Barbados in September 2024.