SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Potchefstroom, South Africa:-England stormed to the top of the three-team Pool B with a 3-0 win over South Africa, while Netherlands put away nine goals on the USA to take the top of Pool A. Zimbabwe provided the stunner of the day, out-playing Canada and taking a 2-1 win off the Junior Pan American champions. In Pool C, Korea squeaked out a 1-0 win over Uruguay, who were in their debut appearance at this tournament, while defending champions, Argentina, blasted past Austria, 8-0, to also secure three points and top Pool C in the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup at North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Results (FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup): Result: Match 1 England beat South Africa 3-0 Player of the Match: Lorna Mackenzie (ENG) Umpires: Lisette Baljon (NED), Victoria Pazos (PAR), Gema Calderon (ESP – reserve) Result: Match 2 Netherlands beat United States 9- 0 Player of the Match: Luna Hokke (NED) Umpires: Alison Keogh (RL), Wanri Venter (RSA), Sophie Bockelmann (GER-reserve) Result: Match 3 Zimbabwe beat Canada 2-1 Player of the Match: Natalie Terblanche (ZIM) Umpires: Yoon Seon Kim (KOR), Ines El Hajem (FRA), Maria Locatelli (ARG-reserve) Result: Match 4 Korea beat Uruguay 1-0 Player of the Match: Jung Sunghee (KOR) Umpires: Rebecca Woodcock (ENG), Ivona Makar (CRO), Catalina Montesino (CHI-reserve) Result: Match 5 Argentina beat Austria 8-0 Player of the Match: Daiana Pacheco (ARG) Umpires: Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL), Ilaria Amorosini (ITA), Lisette Baljon (NED-reserve)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is launching a new four-sport Olympic qualifier series for Paris 2024. This is an Olympic Agenda 2020+5 project, which was presented to the IOC Executive Board. The new IOC-led Olympic qualifier series will include four sports – BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding, and sport climbing. The series of three festival-style events will bring together the best athletes from each of the four sports in one urban park, as they compete to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Hosted in compact city centre venues over four days, between March and June 2024, the festivals will offer a new Olympic experience to fans from around the world, blending sport with music, art and culture. The qualifier series builds on recommendation 6 of Olympic Agenda 2020+5 “Enhance and promote the road to the Olympic Games.” The IOC will work closely with the four partner International Federations – the International Federation of Sport Climbing, the Union Cycliste Internationale, the World DanceSport Federation and World Skate, which will remain responsible for the running of their respective competitions – to use the power of the Olympic brand in order to enhance the exposure of the athletes and their journeys on the road to Paris 2024. These three events will form part of the respective Paris 2024 qualification systems for each sport. IOC President Thomas Bach said: “A key recommendation of Olympic Agenda 2020+5 was to enhance and promote the road to the Olympic Games for the athletes. This series of qualification events is a key milestone in the delivery of that recommendation. By having the best athletes from these four sports in a series of qualification events in major city locations, which will combine sport and culture in a festival atmosphere, we expect to boost their visibility and highlight the great achievements of the competing athletes on the road to Paris 2024. I would like to congratulate the four participating International Federations for their vision in working with us to create a new exciting pathway to the Olympic Games for athletes and fans around the world.”

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-England were clinical as they defeated South Africa by 137 runs to advance to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 final and keep their title defence alive. Danni Wyatt’s maiden World Cup century saw England post an imposing 293 for eight as Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley put on 116 for the fifth wicket. In response, South Africa were rocked as Laura Wolvaardt and Lizelle Lee fell early before Sophie Ecclestone continued her red-hot form to take six for 36 to bowl South Africa out for 156. Tammy Beaumont started with attacking intent taking a four off the first ball from Shabnim Ismail but was caught behind by Trisha Chetty from the bowling of Marizanne Kapp to leave England on 10 for one.  Heather Knight strode to the crease but never found her rhythm before she departed for one from 19 deliveries. England then took advantage of the spin from Chloe Tryon as Wyatt led the run-scoring but partner Nat Sciver fell as Ismail got her first wicket, the right-hander unable to direct a bouncer into a gap with Kapp holding the catch having earlier dropped Wyatt off a similar shot. Tryon then took a screamer to dismiss Amy Jones and end a promising 49-run partnership, Jones going for a big heave into the on-side to leave England in a precarious position at 126 for four. Dunkley joined Wyatt in the middle, with the opener well on the way to her century, but she survived being dropped a third time, in this instance while on 77 as Lara Goodall let the ball sail straight through her hands for four. Wyatt took full advantage as she brought up her hundred, her first at a World Cup, from 98 balls with 10 fours, before being dropped again on 116 as Ayabonga Khaka’s poor day continued. South Africa finally held on to a chance as Wyatt departed for 129 from 125 balls, Lee holding onto a catch and making amends for an earlier drop as Masabata Klaas earned a deserved wicket. Dunkley reached her fifty not long after, coming up off 62 balls, as she earned back-to-back half-centuries, to move England to 250 for five. Katherine Brunt had been given license to hit with less than five overs remaining but was bamboozled by a slower ball from Klaas to bowl her for nine. Ecclestone and Dunkley clawed back any momentum South Africa had built with that wicket before Dunkley departed for 60 caught going for a big drive to mid-off. Ecclestone was unfazed sending Ismail for three boundaries in the final over before the fast bowler had the final say bowling the spinner for 24 as England ended on a mammoth 293 for eight. Anya Shrubsole had batted England to victory in the 2017 semi-final against the Proteas, but here she delivered with the ball, bowling the tournament’s top scorer Wolvaardt for a second-ball duck. Lee followed in Shrubsole’s next over, as Sciver held on to a catch at midwicket to reduce South Africa to eight for two. Kate Cross was the second bowler to get a wicket in her first over as she bowled captain Sune Luus for 21 before Charlie Dean got in on the act to dismiss Goodall for 29 and put South Africa in all kinds of trouble on 67 for four. Dean had earlier dropped Goodall and then dropped the dangerous Kapp but her spin twin Ecclestone came to her rescue removing Kapp with a turning delivery. England were so relaxed they could share a laugh in the field at a poor review for LBW on Tryon but the steely determination returned as she was sent on her way the very next ball by Ecclestone to see the Proteas slump to 101 for six. Mignon du Preez became Ecclestone’s third victim, and 17th of the tournament, missing the ball going for a paddle and seeing her bails fly off. Dean held on to a catch to dismiss Ismail as Ecclestone kept piling on the pressure to leave South Africa on the brink of 148 for eight. Ecclestone then completed her maiden international five-wicket haul as Klaas was caught by Beaumont for three before finishing it off by removing Chetty to finish with the best figures of this World Cup to bowl South Africa out for 156 and set up a final with Australia on Sunday. Scores in brief England beat South Africa at Hagley Oval, Christchurch by 137 runs England 293/8 in 50 overs (Danni Wyatt 129, Sophia Dunkley 60; Shabnim Ismail 3/46) South Africa 156 all out in 38 overs (Mignon du Preez 30, Lara Goodall 29; Sophie Ecclestone 6/36, Anya Shrubsole 2/27) Player of the Match: Danni Wyatt (England)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Having already spent the longest time at the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking (4,731 days), Brazil (1st, +1) returned to the summit in March 2022, five years after they were last there. Recent wins for the Seleçao over Chile (4-0 at home) and Bolivia (4-0 away) in the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ enabled them to overtake Belgium, who had been in first place for the past three years but who failed to get the better of Republic of Ireland on 26 March, drawing 2-2 in a friendly. The March 2022 table is therefore a new chapter in rankings history, but more than that, it will be used to calculate the seeds for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Pot 1: Qatar (host nation), Brazil, Belgium, France, Argentina, England, Spain, Portugal Pot 2: Mexico, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Uruguay, Switzerland, USA, Croatia Pot 3: Senegal, Iran, Japan, Morocco, Serbia, Poland, Korea Republic, Tunisia Pot 4: Cameroon, Canada, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, winner of intercontinental play-off 1, winner of intercontinental play-off 2, winner of European play-off Belgium (2nd, -1) are now on the second step of the podium, ahead of France (3rd) who remain unchanged. Behind this top three, Argentina (4th), England (5th), Spain (7th) and Portugal (8th) are the next best placed teams with regard to the Draw, keeping in mind that Italy (6th) will be absent following their defeat in the play-off semi-final. Mexico (9th, +3) and Uruguay (13th, +3) are the biggest movers inside the top 20, while overall, it is Costa Rica (31st, +11) and then New Zealand (101st, +10) who have made the most progress. Also of note is the fact that Kosovo (107th, +2) have achieved their highest ever ranking to date.

Sports Bulletin Report MULTAN:-All eyes will be on defending champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when they take on Balochistan in the final of the Pakistan Cup on Friday at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The 50-over tournament will be the last tournament of the 2021-22 domestic cricket season, in which the Pakistan Cricket Board delivered 11 tournaments (280 matches). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have already annexed the U13, U16, U19, National T20 Cup and Quaid-e-Azam Trophy titles and if they succeed in winning on Friday, this will be their sixth title of the 2021-22 season and seventh in succession. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa qualified for the final after defeating Central Punjab by six wickets in the first semi-final on 28 March, while Yasir Shah-led Balochistan progressed to the title match after overpowering Sindh by 13 runs in the second semi-final on 30 March. The winner will collect a cheque of PKR5million, while the losing side will receive PKR2.5million. Separately, PKR1million will be distributed between the Player of the Tournament, Best Batter, Best Bowler and Best Wicketkeeper, while the Player of the Final will receive PKR35,000. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captain Khalid Usman: “We have played some outstanding cricket during the season and we would like to end it on a winning note. “The players have responded well in different conditions and different formats, and I hope they will do well in the final. Balochistan is a good side and they have performed well in crunch situations and so, we are hoping that fans are up for a good contest tomorrow.” Balochistan captain Yasir Shah: “I am really proud of the players; the way they have responded in this tournament. “Our combination is really good and I am hopeful of lifting the title on Friday. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a great side, but we have the resources to beat them in all departments of the game.” Both sides have met twice in the tournament before going into Friday’s final. In the third round match at the Multan Cricket Stadium on March 6, Balochistan inflicted a crushing eight-wicket win over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Imran Butt and Asad Shafiq scored unbeaten half-centuries, while Amad Butt and Khurram Shahzad bagged three wickets apiece for the winning team. In the return match at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on 26 March, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bounced back and won the match by 49 runs. Adil Amin’s 92 and captain Khalid three wickets played an instrumental role in the victory. Top performers: Balochistan’s Haseebullah is the second highest run-getter in the tournament with 569 runs from 11 matches at an average of 56.90. The left-handed batter was named player-of-the-match in the second semi-final against Sindh for his 114-ball 131. Test cricketer and Balochistan’s middle-order batter Asad Shafiq currently occupies fourth spot in the batting charts with 489 runs at 97.80. Another Test cricketer and Balochistan’s opening batter Imran Butt has scored 481 runs from 11 outings in the tournament at an average of 53.44. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kamran Ghulam holds the seventh spot in the batting charts with 461 runs from 11 matches at 41.91. The 2020 Domestic Cricketer of the Year was named player-of-the-match in the first semi-final against Central Punjab for his 120-ball 109. Adil Amin is on the ninth spot with 453 runs from 11 matches at 45.30. Amongst the bowlers, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s captain Khalid leads the table with 23 wickets from 11 matches.  Khalid is followed by his rival captain Yasir, who has taken 20 wickets from 11 matches.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Pakistan hit back with a vengeance when they recorded their highest successful ODI run-chase to defeat Australia by six wickets to level the three-match ODI series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday night. Opener Imam-ul-Haq scored his second successive century of the series, first Pakistan batter to achieve this feat against Australia, and world No.1 Babar reached the magical three figures for the 15th time in 50-over cricket as Pakistan raced to the 349-run target with six balls to spare. Eight years ago at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, Pakistan had scored 329 to win by three wickets with one ball to spare. Pakistan’s other big successful run-chase was against India in Mohali in November 2007 when they scored 322 to win by four wickets with one ball remaining. This was Pakistan’s fifth highest match aggregate. They were previously involved in 734-run, 719-run, 717-run (all against England in England) and 709-run (against Zimbabwe in Lahore) thrillers. Overall, this was the 25th highest match aggregate in 4380 ODIs to date. The victory put Pakistan back on No.6 in the ICC ODI Team Rankings, while the 10 win points lifted them from 11th to eighth in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. Imam scored 106 runs from 97 balls with six punishing fours and three towering sixes, while Babar scored 114 from 83 balls with 11 eloquent fours and a massive six. Imam put on 118 runs from 113 balls for the first wicket with Fakhar Zaman, who scored an attractive 64-ball 67 with seven fours and two sixes, while his second wicket stand with Babar yielded 111 runs from 92 balls. Following the departure of Imam, Babar kept the pressure on the accelerator as he put on 80 runs for the third wicket from 61 balls with Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 26-ball 23. When Imam fell, Pakistan required 120 runs off 15.5 overs, while 40 runs were required off 34 balls when Babar’s impressive innings ended. When Rizwan perished, Pakistan needed 32 runs from 25 balls, which later became 27 off 18 balls. Nonetheless, Khushdil Shah (27 off 17 balls with two fours and two sixes) kept a cool head on his shoulders and made sure there were no further loses as he got the required runs in 19 balls. Iftikhar Ahmed was the other not out batter with eight off seven balls. Imam and Babar, the local lads, matched each other stroke by stroke as they sent Australia on a leather chase to provide full entertainment to around 20,000 spectators. While Imam reached his half-century from 50 balls with two fours and two sixes, Babar reached his 50 from 42 balls with three fours and a six. Imam’s century came off 90 balls with six fours and three sixes, Babar reached his century from 73 balls with 10 fours and a six. Earlier, for the second successive time, Babar Azam put Australia into bat and though Shaheen Shah Afridi handed Australia captain Aaron Finch a golden duck, the decision appeared to have backfired when the visitors sprinted to 200 for two in 29.1 overs with a total of around 400 firmly within their sights. However, Pakistan bowlers bounced back strongly as they conceded 148 runs in the remaining 20.5 overs to restrict Australia to 348 for eight. Shaheen Shah Afridi finished as the pick of bowlers with four for 63, while Mohammad Wasim snapped up two wickets for 56. Ben McDermott had a day to remember when he recorded his maiden century in fourth match while scoring a 108-ball 104 that included 10 fours and four sixes. Travis Head followed up his 101 on Tuesday with a 70-ball 89 with six fours and five sixes, Labuschagne scored 59 off 49 balls with five fours and Marcus Stoinis contributed a 33-ball 49 with five fours and a six. Australia scored their last 48 runs in 29 balls, thanks to Sean Abbott’s 28 off 16 balls with four fours. Australia’s biggest partnership was for the second wicket when Head and McDermott put on 162 runs from 144 balls. For the third wicket, McDermott and Labuschagne put on 74 runs from 63 balls, while Stoinis and Abbott were involved in a 42-run partnership for the seventh wicket from 23 balls.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Abdul Qadir, who took 236 Test and 132 ODI wickets with a bouncy run-up flicking the ball from hand to hand, was formally inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame posthumously ahead of the second One-Day International between Pakistan and Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium. Saqlain Mushtaq, Pakistan’s most successful spinner with 496 international wickets and also head coach of the men’s national side, inducted Abdul Qadir into the eight-man elite group by presenting the commemorative cap and plaque to his youngest son Usman Qadir, who is part of Pakistan’s white-ball squad for the ongoing Series. Qadir’s best Test performance was, in fact, at the Gaddafi Stadium when he took nine for 56 against England in 1987. He played seven ODIs at the headquarters of Pakistan cricket but he is most remembered for his nine-ball 16 not out against the West Indies in the 1987 World Cup that earned Pakistan a one-wicket victory and a place in the semi-finals ahead of the two-time former world champions. Usman Qadir: “I am sure dad watching from up there will be absolutely delighted and pleased with the way his institution has recognised him today in front of his own fans and at his favourite cricket ground. Cricket was everything for him and on behalf of my family, I thank the PCB for acknowledging his services to Pakistan and the global game. “He was a cricket genius who was always happy to share his knowledge and experience. He took a lot of pride in the art he had mastered that ultimately gave a new dimension to cricket. Rest followed him and contributed in making wrist spin bowling a lethal weapon that is equally entertaining to watch and follow in all formats of the game.” Saqlain Mushtaq: “It is an honour and pride for me to formally induct Abdul Qadir into the PCB Hall of Fame on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Abdul Qadir is a hero and a star for all generations for his outstanding and marvelous contributions to this great game.” Born on 15 September 1955 in Lahore, Qadir made his Test debut against England in 1977 and in only his second match in Hyderabad, took six for 44 with the Wisden Cricketers Almanack describing him as “the most notable discovery of his type for some time”. Qadir passed away on 6 September 2019. Wisden Cricketers Alamack, in its tribute, wrote: “The legendary Pakistani leg-spinner Abdul Qadir was one of the finest exponents of his art, with his skills and magical tricks inspiring generations to come.”

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-As many as 14 more matches were decided on the third day of the Talat Rafiq Punjab Junior Tennis Championship 2022 here at the Punjab Tennis Academy, Bagh-e-Jinnah on Thursday. In the Boys’ Under-16 semifinals, Abdur Rehman (AAA Associates), a brilliant student of SICAS, played well against Mohammad Sohaan Noor and outpaced him by 8-5 while Amir Mazari (Aitchison) outsmarted young Arman Kamran by 8-2. In the Girls’ Under-16 quarterfinals, rising star Bismal Zia displayed superb tennis skills and techniques against Javaria and outlasted her by 8-3. In the Boys’ Under-14 quarterfinals, Abdur Rehman (AAA Associates) outclassed young Aalay Husnain by 8-0 while Mohammad Sohaan Noor overwhelmed Naad e Ali by 8-0. In the Boys/Girls Under-12 quarterfinals, Abdur Rehman took little time to brush aside Abdur Rehman Zahid by 8-0 while upcoming star Bismal Zia overpowered Mustafa Khalil 8-0. In the boys/girls U-10 quarterfinals, Hajra Sohail (AAA Associates) outclassed M Ayyan by 8-0, Taha Asad defeated Zaina by 8-6 and Ameen Abdullah beat his opponent by 8-7.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti said Jhang Kabaddi Festival will play a key role in the promotion of Kabaddi in this region of the province; he said this while talking at the closing ceremony of Jhang Kabaddi Festival at Sports Stadium Mandi Shah Jeewana on Thursday. Director General Sports Punjab Javed Chohan, Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Chief Sports Consultant SBP Hafeez Bhatti, Divisional Sports Officer DG Khan Atta urRehman, District Sports Officer Jhang Mohammad Jameel and a large number of kabaddi enthusiasts were also present on this occasion. Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti was warmly received by the local kabaddi officials. He was also introduced to all participating teams of the event. It may be noted here that the competitions of Jhang Kabaddi Festival and Kabaddi Taakra events are being organised under the aegis of Sports Board Punjab. Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Rai Taimmor Khan Bhatti said kabaddi is the traditional and most popular sport of our province. “We organized Jhang Kabaddi Festival as part of our campaign to promote sports culture at regional level after the successful holding of sports events in South Punjab and we will continue this sequence in future as well”. Talking on this occasion, Director General Sports Punjab Javed Chohan said that Jhang Kabaddi Festival and Kabaddi Taakra events are being staged for the promotion of this traditional game among the young generation of the province. “We are quite upbeat to find several talented kabaddi players though this event,” he added. 

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Aisam ul Haq Qureshi and his partner from Kazakistan Alexander Nedovyesov outplayed the pair of Stan Wawrinca of Switzerland (former World No 3) and Pablo Andujar of Spain in the quarterfinal of the Anytech365 Andulacia Open World Challenger Tennis Championship on red clay courts in Marbella Spain. The lasted for one hour and sixteen minutes, Aisam ul Haq Qureshi and his partner from Kazakistan Alexander Nedovyesov defeated their challengers 2-0 with the score-line of 6-1 and 7-6.