Khurram Shahzad ISLAMABAD:-President, Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), Col (Retd) Waseem Ahmad Janjua has revealed that PTF gets Rs. 2 million grant from Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) once a year, as this amount is not enough to run the affairs of federation. While talking to this scribe during an exclusive sitting ex-army man added that without sponsorship sports could not be moved ahead at national and international level. “However, the taekwondo federation does a lot for the players to give them maximum national and international exposure and other support like equipment helmets, safeguards and gloves, which are vital for players to learn the basic skills of martial art, “he said. Wasim Janjua further said that he was appointed as manager with Pakistan Taekwondo Federation during the 9th South Asian Games 2004, which took place in Islamabad. “Later on, Brigadier Arif Siddiqui and General Arif Hassan guided me and I got the responsibilities as the secretary of the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation, “he further said. Responding to a question he said, “Pakistan joined the World Taekwondo Federation in 1977 after that PTF registered with the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) in 1982. When I joined the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation, the conditions of the game were very bad. No one was serious with taekwondo. I did not give up and continued to work hard. Today, by the grace of Allah, PTF is the only federation in Pakistan that has won a bronze medal in the Olympic Qualifying Round and our athletes have achieved great success in international competitions, “he said. “I had the opportunity to attend a course in the United States in 2016 during which my thesis was "Promotion and Development of Taekwondo at Grass Root Level". It was a great experience. After completing the 45-day course, I worked for the promotion of this sport from the grass root level in the country. The development of any sport is not possible until this sport is started from the grass root level. PTF organized the competitions at Under 7,9,12,15,17,20 age group level, “he added. Waseem Janjua, while replying another question, said, “There are about 100 clubs registered with us in the country which are present in all the provinces. They bear their own expenses while the federation also provides food including Traveling Allowance (TA) and Daily Allowance (DA) for participation in the national and international events. We also provide helmets, gloves and jackets. There are 213 countries registered with the World Taekwondo Federation from all over the world. Asia has the best taekwondo players in the world in which Iran is number one. Taekwondo is an Olympic sport and Pakistan has not yet qualified for the Olympics but a Pakistani athlete won a bronze medal in the Olympic qualifying round. According to the rules, gold and silver medal winning athletes qualify for the Olympics, “he concluded.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-A quick glance at the make-up of Group D of ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup shows just how challenging it will be to make it out of the first round. Hosts West Indies won the tournament back in 2016, Australia are three-time champions and Sri Lanka also have a final appearance to their name. Scotland round out the group in their ninth appearance in the competition, qualifying after New Zealand were forced to withdraw due to Covid-19 restrictions. Australia (13th appearance) Only India have won the ICC U19 Men’s CWC more times than Australia’s three titles, with Australia also second in terms of matches won and win percentage. In fact in 12 previous appearances, Australia have made it through to at least the semi-finals on eight occasions, they are remarkably consistent. The last win came back in 2010, a team featuring Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood, who 11 years later would play key roles as Australia claimed the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. This time around, all-rounder Cooper Connolly will lead the side, and he will have fond memories of taking on the host nation. In 2020 he hammered 64 off 53 balls against the West Indies in a play-off match that was eventually abandoned due to rain. He is the only player who returns from the 2020 squad, but will not lack for support, notably from ambidextrous spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan. Scotland (9th appearance) Scotland initially missed out on qualification after losing to Ireland in the final of the Qualifier, but were handed a reprieve when New Zealand withdrew from the competition. The Scots are yet to make it past the first round, and face a battle to do so for the first time in 2022 with the strength of the group. Gordon Drummond is the coach of the side, which will be captained by 18-year-old left-arm spinner Charlie Peet. The Scots will not lack for experience, with Peet one of five players who were also part of the squad two years ago. Sri Lanka (14th appearance) Sri Lanka will be looking for an improved showing after going out in the first round in each of the last two editions of the ICC Men’s U19 CWC. Semi-finalists in 2016 with a squad featuring Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga, they have twice finished third in their group since. The aim will be to avoid a third straight failure to make the quarter-finals, but the group in which they find themselves will not be easy. Matheesha Pathirana is back in the squad after playing in 2020 when Sri Lanka finished 10th overall. Dunith Wellalage will captain the side having previously withdrawn from a Sri Lanka U19 squad to focus on his studies. West Indies (14th appearance) An ever-present at this tournament, hosts West Indies will be looking to follow in the footsteps of the 2016 side that went all the way and won the title. To do so, they will have to overcome the odds. Not since Australia in the very first tournament back in 1998 has a host nation won the tournament, although Sri Lanka and Australia have both made it to the final on home soil. The 2016 crop that won the title were captained by Shimron Hetmyer, with another future international, Alzarri Joseph, leading the bowling attack. If recent matches against South Africa are anything to go by, the bowling may be the West Indies’ strength once again with quick bowler Johann Layne one to watch out for. Middle order batter Ackeem Auguste captains the side which kicks off against Australia in Guyana before heading to St Kitts and Nevis for the remaining two group games.

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai (UAE):-The nominees for ICC Player of the Month nominees for December 2021 have been announced, with three men distinguishing themselves with some brilliant performances in the month. There will be no award in the women’s category in December as there were no international women’s games scheduled last month. ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December: Mayank Agarwal (India) With regular openers Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul all missing games at some point last month, Mayank Agarwal has grabbed the opportunity with both hands in the series against New Zealand and South Africa. In the two matches, he scored 276 runs at an average of 69.00, which included two fifties and a century. With India having drawn the first Test against Kiwis in Kanpur, the hosts were looking to bounce back with a win. India routed New Zealand in Mumbai and Agarwal was the architect of the win a Player of the Match-winning performance of 150 and 62 in the two innings. Batting first in overcast conditions, KL Rahul and Agarwal set the platform with a brilliant opening partnership of 117 in Centurion. Ajaz Patel (New Zealand) Ajaz Patel inked history in December, when he picked up 10 wickets in an innings against India, becoming the third player in Tests to achieve the feat after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble. The left-arm spinner played just one Test in the month, where he picked up 14 wickets at an average of 16.07. He picked up all 10 wickets in the first innings but was disappointed by the Kiwi batters who were bundled out for 62. In the second innings, he picked up four wickets, including that of openers Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara. He finished with figures of 14/225, the best bowling figures in a Test match in 2021. Mitchell Starc (Australia) Mitchell Starc has played a vital role, both with the bat and ball in hand, in Australia retaining the Ashes with two games to spare. In the three games last month, he picked up 14 wickets at an average of 19.64 and was more than handy with the bat, scoring 117 runs in the three matches at an average of 58.50. He set the tone for the whole series by dismissing Rory Burns with the first ball of the first Test. While batting, he kept Travis Head company with an innings of 35 and added 85 crucial runs for the eighth wicket. Starc was magnificent with the bat and ball in the second Test, picking up six wickets and scoring 58 runs in Adelaide. This included a brilliant four-wicket haul in the first innings that helped reduce England to 236, giving Australia a massive lead of 237 runs. In the Boxing Day Test, Starc picked two crucial wickets in the first innings, including that of England's captain Joe Root. His innings of 24* helped Australia gain an 82-run lead, which proved to be enough as England were out for 68. He picked up three wickets in the second innings as Australia won by an innings to retain the prestigious Ashes urn.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMBAD (January 8, 2022):- Ace Pakistan tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi pairing with Alexander Nedovyesov from Kazakhstan reached into the final of Men’s Doubles Event of the ATP World Tennis Championship after brushing aside to Ricardas Berankis from Lithuania and Denys Molchanov from Ukraine in straight sets 2-0 at John Cain Arena, Melbourne Australia on Saturday. The final score-line was 6-2 and 6-2. According to available information from abroad, in the second semifinal of the Men’s Doubles event Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aleksandr Nedovyesov won the first set 6-2 by displaying excellent skill of the game. They kept the same pressure on their opponents in the second set and finished in the same fashion 6-2. Now, they will meet Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski in final on Sunday, who defeated Marcelo Arevalo and Jean Julien Roger 6-2, 6-4 in the first semifinal. Results (Men’s Doubles): Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski beat Marcelo Arevalo and Jean Julien Roger 6-2, 6-4 Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aleksandr Nedovyesov beat R Berankis and D Molchanov 6-2, 6-2

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD (January 8, 2022):-Group C of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup pits a two-time champion against one of the rising forces in the game, with a couple of potential dark horses looking to spring a surprise. Pakistan are the only team to have defended the title, doing so back in 2006 after a first crown two years earlier, and will be looking to make it to the final for the sixth time in the West Indies. Their biggest rivals in the group could be Afghanistan, whose best result came four years ago when they reached the semi-finals. Joining the sub-continental duo are Zimbabwe, who have made it out of the first round on three occasions, and Papua New Guinea, back in the competition after failing to qualify in 2020. Afghanistan (7th appearance) Afghanistan’s rise in the senior game has been mirrored at Under 19 level, with the side having reached the quarter-finals in three of the last four editions of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC. Since first qualifying in 2010, Afghanistan have made it to every tournament since, with the highlight coming in 2018 when a team featuring the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mujeeb Ur Rahman helped them reach the semi-finals before losing to Australia. This time around, it will be up to spinner Noor Ahmad to provide the experience, as the only survivor from the 2020 squad. The 17-year-old has been involved in both the Big Bash and the PSL and should provide plenty of support to skipper Suliman Safi. Pakistan (14th appearance) Only India have reached the ICC U19 Men’s CWC final more often than Pakistan, who have done so on five occasions in total. The glory years came back in 2004 and 2006, with back-to-back titles in squads featuring the likes of future skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, as well as Wahab Riaz and Imad Wasim. More recently, Shaheen Shah Afridi first caught the eye in the ICC U19 Men’s CWC, so the conveyor belt of talent has shown no signs of slowing down. In the West Indies, all-rounder Qasim Akram will captain the side that is coached by Pakistan legend Ijaz Ahmed. Qasim will be joined by top-order batter Mohammad Shehzad who is also back for his second appearances in the tournament. Papua New Guinea (9th appearance) After Papua New Guinea’s senior men’s team competed at the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the Under 19 team will make their ninth appearance in the ICC U19 Men’s CWC in the West Indies. PNG are yet to make it out of the first round of the tournament but of their three previous victories, two have come against Group C opponents. In 2010, PNG got the better of Afghanistan while two years later they got the better of Zimbabwe. All-rounder Barnabas Maha will lead the side in the West Indies, having also captained the side during qualification for the 2020 ICC U19 Men’s CWC. Zimbabwe (13th appearance) Zimbabwe have been remarkably consistent in recent editions, finishing either 10th or 11th in each of the last four ICC U19 Men’s CWCs. The best of those campaigns came in 2016 when a team featuring then 15-year-old Wesley Madhevere lost by just two runs to eventual champions West Indies to miss out on qualification for the quarter-finals before going on to beat South Africa by eight wickets in the play-offs. A record of three wins and three losses in each of those tournaments shows that Zimbabwe should not be taken lightly by any opponent, and they will be keen to spring a surprise of the sub-continental pair who are favourites to get out of the group. Emmanuel Bawa, who scored a century against Canada at the 2020 edition, captains the side this year and is the only remaining member of that squad. He will be supported by vice-captain Brian Bennett in a side that is coached by former Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya.

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Melbourne (Australia):-Pakistan’s top tennis player Aisam Qureshi pairing with Alexander Nedovyesov from Kazakhstan defeated duo of heavyweight tennis lads 4th seeded pair of Andre Golubev from Kazakistan and F.Skugor of Croatia 2-1 in the quarterfinals of Men’s Doubles event of the ATP World Tennis Championship in Melbourne Australia. The final score-line was 6-3, 7-6 and 8-6. It was three sets thriller contest in which winner players displayed top quality game in the second set after losing the first one at 3-6. As the second set went neck-to-neck and was leveled at 6-7. Asim and his partner did well and snatch the set on tie-break, as they saved 7 set points in the second set before winning it in tie break

ISLAMABAD (SB Report):-An in-match penalty for slow over rates in men’s and women’s Twenty20 Internationals comes into effect this month, with the updated playing conditions also providing for an optional drinks interval midway through the innings in bilateral T20 international cricket. The over rate regulations are captured in clause 13.8 of the playing conditions (here), which stipulate that a fielding side must be in position to bowl the first ball of the final over of the innings by the scheduled or rescheduled time for the end of the innings. If they are not in such a position, one fewer fielder will be permitted outside of the 30-yard circle for the remaining overs of the innings. The change was recommended by the ICC Cricket Committee, which regularly discusses ways to improve the pace of play in all formats, after considering reports on the effectiveness of a similar regulation that was included in the playing conditions for the Hundred competition conducted by the ECB. The in-match penalties are in addition to the sanctions for slow over rate outlined in Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. In another change, an optional drinks break of two minutes and thirty seconds may be taken at the mid-point of each innings subject to agreement between Members at the start of each series. The first men’s match to be played under the new playing conditions will be the one-off tie between the West Indies and Ireland at the Sabina Park in Jamaica on 16 January while the first T20I of the three-match series between South Africa and the West Indies in Centurion on 18 January will be the first women’s match played under the new playing conditions.

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Johannesburg (South Africa):-Hosts South Africa defeated India by 7 wickets to level the three-match series 1-1 at Wanderers Cricket Stadium, Johannesburg South Africa on Thursday. An unbeaten innings by Dean Elgar helped hosts to get the target of 240 runs on the last day of Test match. First Test was won by the India. It was first-ever defeat to India in Johannesburg. The victory also meant South Africa kept the three-match series alive, going into the final Test in Cape Town. South Africa 229 (Petersen 62, Bavuma 51, Thakur 7-61) and 243 for 3 (Elgar 96*, van der Dussen 40, Ashwin 1-26) beat India 202 (Rahul 50, Ashwin 46, Jansen 4-31, Rabada 3-64, Olivier 3-64) and 266 (Rahane 58, Ngidi 3-43, Jansen 3-67) by seven wickets  

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-The trio team of brothers Mingma, Chhang Dawa and Tashi Lakpa Sherpa became the three siblings and the first Nepali team to reach the South Pole (90) on January 2, 2022. The team will also ascend The Vinson peak (4,892M/16,050FT), which is the highest peak in the Antarctica continent before returning home. Mingma and Chhang Dawa Sherpa held the Guinness World Record for '”World's First Siblings to Summit all 8,000 m”. Similarly, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa among the three siblings holds the Guinness Record for climbing Mt. Everest at the age of 20 without using supplementary oxygen. The siblings have already scheduled a plan to the North Pole expedition in the Spring 2022 to complete all the remaining summits.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD (January 6, 2022):-No country has won more ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cups than India and their quest for a fifth title will begin in Group B. Beaten finalists two years ago, India are looking to go one better this time around and replicate the achievements of the class of 2018, who swept all before them in New Zealand led by current internationals Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill. Coming up against them in the group stage are 2014 champions South Africa, competition regulars Ireland and a Uganda side making their first appearance at this tournament for 16 years. Group B begins in Guyana before moving to Trinidad & Tobago, where one match will take place at Queen’s Park Oval and three at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. India (14th appearance) India have only once failed to make it past the group stage at an ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup – at the opening edition in 1988 – and enter among the favourites to go all the way. Lifting the 2021 Asia Cup served as perfect preparation, with spinners Vicky Ostwal and Kaushal Tambe shining as India defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the final on New Year’s Eve. The spin twins therefore head to the Caribbean full of confidence, as do the Asia Cup’s leading run scorers Harnoor Singh and Shaik Rasheed, and India’s strength with bat and ball will again make them formidable opponents. Yash Dhull captains the side and will hope to join an illustrious list of names – including Mohammad Kaif, Virat Kohli and Shaw – to have led India to victory in this competition. Ireland (9th appearance) Ireland qualified for their ninth ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in style, skittling Scotland for 66 in a one-sided final of the Europe qualifier last September. Matthew Humphreys was the star in La Manga, taking 5-25, and the slow left-arm spinner from Lisburn will be eager to take that form into the big occasion. Ireland warmed up by taking on Zimbabwe in Barbados over the New Year and though they went down 3-1 in the series, a 117-run win in the final match showed what the side captained by Tim Tector are capable of on their day. Tenth place in 2010 is Ireland’s best performance in their eight outings to date but they won three of their six matches last time they qualified in 2018, including a memorable four-run victory over Afghanistan. South Africa (13th appearance) South Africa’s chances of success on home soil were ended at the quarter-final stage by eventual winners Bangladesh two years ago but a talented squad will hope to challenge for honours in the Caribbean. All-rounder Dewald Brevis impressed for the Proteas youngsters in the CSA Provincial T20 Knockout competition in October – his batting style drawing comparisons with AB de Villiers – while his leg-spin caused West Indies plenty of problems in a recent warm-up series against the home nation. Left-arm spinner Asakhe Tsaka and captain George van Heerden will also hope to make names for themselves in the coming weeks as South Africa look for a second ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy. Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada were the stars of a memorable triumph eight years ago and the current crop will be confident of following in their footsteps. Uganda (3rd appearance) Having narrowly missed out on appearing in 2016 and 2018, Uganda came out on the right side of a nail-biting qualification group to book a place at their third ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. Uganda needed a big net run rate swing in their favour going into the final matches in the Africa qualifier and they duly achieved it, dismissing Tanzania for 51 and losing just two wickets in reply to advance at Namibia’s expense. In Cyrus Kakuru and Joseph Baguma, Uganda possessed the leading run scorer and joint leading wicket taker of the Africa qualifier while captain Pascal Murungi claimed 4-9 in the decisive win over Tanzania. The Baby Cricket Cranes have won one match on each of their previous outings at this competition, in 2004 and 2006, and will be eager to show what they can do on their return to the global stage.