Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE (January 6, 2022):-Mohammad Rizwan has won the PCB’s Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year award following a stellar 2021 in which he scored 455 Test, 134 ODI and 1,326 T20I runs, besides accounting for 56 batsmen behind the wickets across all formats. For the Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year award, Rizwan beat the challenge of Babar Azam, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also had an impressive and outstanding year, which is reflected through Pakistan’s overall performance in 2021. Mohammad Rizwan: “I feel humbled and honoured to have been adjudged Pakistan’s Most Valuable Cricketer of 2021. This is the PCB’s most prestigious award and to be recognised for my contributions in the team’s superlative performances across all formats in 2021 in such a way gives me tremendous satisfaction and happiness. “I thought I had an exceptional year in the shortest format of the game when I was able to hit a century early in the year against South Africa and then carry that confidence and momentum for the rest of the year. I give a lot of credit to our bowlers who bowled their hearts out and didn’t let the pressure get onto the batters by maintaining sustained pressure on the opponents throughout the year.” Hasan Ali won the Test Cricketer of the Year for his 41 wickets in nine Tests, including a 10-for and five, five-fors as well as two player of the match and one player of the series awards. Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam bagged the ODI Cricketer of the Year award for accumulating 405 runs in six ODIs with two centuries and a half-century. Hasan Ali: “Test cricket is the pinnacle format of the game and to be adjudged as the Test Cricketer of the Year is a proud moment for me. Last year was sort of a comeback year for me after I had missed international cricket in 2020 due to an injury. I was not only able to make a successful return to international cricket but also played my part in the team’s overall success in 2021. “Taking 10 wickets against South Africa in Rawalpindi in my second Test in nearly two years and helping Pakistan win the series 2-0 was one of my highlights of the year and a very happy moment that set the stage for the remaining part of the year.” Shaheen Shah Afridi’s three for 31 against India on 24 October in Dubai in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 won him the Impactful Performance of the Year award. This performance changed the outlook of the side as it not only defeated India by 10 wickets but remained unbeaten in the league matches until they lost a heart-breaking match to Australia in the semi-final. Subsequent to the T20 World Cup, Pakistan remained unbeaten in Bangladesh as well as in the home T20I series against the West Indies. Shaheen Shah Afridi: “I am extremely happy that my performance against our traditional rivals in a global event has been chosen as the Impactful Performance of the Year. For the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the team wanted an aggressive, fearless and convincing start to set the tone for the rest of the event and I am delighted that I was able to provide exactly that.” Mohammad Wasim Junior bagged the Emerging Cricketer of the Year for his 45 wickets in 2021, including 15 wickets in his first year of international cricket, while Nida Dar was named as the Women’s Cricketer of the Year after aggregating 604 runs and taking 25 wickets. Sahibzada Farhan won the Domestic Cricketer of the Year following his 487 runs in the Pakistan Cup, 447 runs in the National T20 and 935 runs in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. For the second successive year, PCB’s elite match officials voted Asif Yaqoob as the Umpire of the Year. Pakistan cricket team’s visit to the Namibia dressing room following their 45 runs victory to congratulate and appreciate them on their qualification for their maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and reaching the Super-12 stage won them the Spirit of Cricket award. PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja: “On behalf of the PCB, I want to congratulate each award winner. They deserve all the applause and accolades for their tremendous consistency across all formats in difficult times that inspired their sides to outstanding performances throughout 2021, which have been widely acknowledged by the Pakistan cricket fans.” PCB Awards 2021 winners: Impactful performance of the year - Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-31 v Ind, T20 World Cup) Emerging Cricketer of the Year  - Mohammad Wasim Jnr (15 international wickets, seven Pakistan Cup wickets, 12 HBL PSL 2021 wickets, five National T20 wickets and six Quaid-e-Azam Trophy wickets) ODI Cricketer of the Year - Babar Azam (6 ODIs, 405 runs) Women’s Cricketer of the Year - Nida Dar (10 ODIs, 363 runs and 6 wickets; 6 T20Is, 95 runs and 5   wickets; 146 runs and 14 wickets in Pakistan Women’s Cup) Test Cricketer of the Year - Hasan Ali (9 Tests, 41 wickets, 5 five-fors, 1 10-for, best match figures 10-114) T20I Cricketer of the Year - M Rizwan (29 T20Is, 1,326 runs) Spirit of Cricket – Pakistan cricket team’s visit to the Namibia cricket team’s dressing room following their 45 runs victory to congratulate the Namibia side for qualifying for their maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and then progressing to the Super-12 Stage Umpire of the Year – Asif Yaqoob (selected by the PCB’s elite match officials) Domestic Cricketer of the Year - Sahibzada Farhan (1,869 runs in Pakistan Cup, National T20 and Quaid-e-Azam Trophy) Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (9 Tests, 455 runs; 6 ODIs, 134 runs; 29 T20Is, 1,326 runs; total dismissal 56)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD (January 6, 2022):-Ace Pakistani tennis lad Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi pairing with Alexander Nedovyesov from Kazakhstan outclassed high ranked Dimitrov from Russia and Goffin from Belgium, a former world number seven 2-1 in the pre-quarterfinal of the ATP World Ranking Tennis Championship in Melbourne Australia on Wednesday. The final score-line was 7-6, 3-6 and 10-7.  

Bipin Dani Not only Sri Lanka's top order batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa has announced his retirement but all rounder Angelo Perera too has tendered his retirement letter to the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board.   Unlike in Rajapaksahe case, whose retirement is accepted by the SLC, the SLC is yet to release a statement on Perera's letter. "Yes, my son has submitted the letter on Tuesday and it is confirmed that he has decided to retire from international cricket", his father, Nalin Perera, speaking exclusively over telephone from Colombo, said on Wednesday afternoon. "We have absolutely no regrets. Zero regrets for the decision", the father added. Rajapaksa, in his letter of resignation has cited family obligations as the reason for his retirement. However, Angelo Perera is leaving Sri Lanka for different reasons. "The economy in this country is not so good and he will be leaving for some other country", one of the close sources explained. "His wife is also expecting the first child in the month of April and he wants to leave Sri Lanka before that", the source further added. "It is true. He is planning to settle overseas", the dad confirmed. "He may continue to play in the country he travels to. Yes, he is aware that he would require a cooling off period before being eligible to play for the national team in that country but will play local cricket till then".

Sports Bulletin Report Houston (January 6, 2022):-Unfit Nasir Iqbal failed to complete the match, as an injury forced him (Nasir Iqbal) to leave the court in the first round match against Cesar Salazar from Mexico in the ongoing Houston Open Squash Championship at Houston Squash Center (HSC), Houston Texas, United States of America (USA). Nasir was downed 2-0 and ahead in the third game 10-5. It is pertinent to mention here that Nasir Iqbal had got a wild card entry in the Houston Open Squash Championship, which was pursuing prize money of $US 100,000. Cesar Salazar (Mexico) beat Nasir Iqbal (Pakistan) 3-0 (12-10, 12-10, 5-10) retire hurt

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: South African Blind Cricket Team will visit Pakistan this year 2022 to play a series including three One Day Internationals and three Twenty 20 internationals, which will be taken place from February 26 to March 9, 2022. According to an official of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), ODIs series will be played in Karachi while the T20s will take place in Lahore or Faisalabad, as the final decision will be made regarding the T20 venue in few days. A 20-member South African team including officials would be visiting Pakistan. Pakistan team will be announced for the series in the first week of February. We have shortlisted a pool of 25 to 30 players out of which the final line-up will be selected.

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (UEA):-Rahul, whose best in the format is eighth position that he attained in November 2017, struck 123 in the first innings and was associated in an important 117-run opening partnership with Mayank Agrawal (60) as India became the first Asian team to win a Test match at the venue while gaining important points in the WTC points table powered by MRF Tyres. Agarwal has gained one place for his contribution while Ajinkya Rahane is up two places to 25th in the latest update that is carried out on Wednesdays and includes all matches that are completed by Tuesday each week. Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami are other Indians to move up the rankings. Bumrah is up three spots to ninth after finishing with five wickets in the match while Shami’s eight wickets, including a five-for in the first innings, see him move up two places to 17th. For South Africa, captain and opener Dean Elgar has progressed two spots to 14th after a fighting 77 in the second innings while Temba Bavuma is up 16 places to 39th for his scores of 52 and 35 not out. Kagiso Rabada, who grabbed seven scalps, has advanced one place to sixth position while his fellow fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has gained 16 slots and is 30th on the list after finishing with eight wickets in the match. Debutant left-arm fast bowler Marco Jensen entered the rankings in 97th position.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-With just 30 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 , the IOC held a series of the traditional consultation calls with athlete representatives from around the world, the National Olympic Committees and the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations. They were also joined by the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee. As Games participants start to arrive in the Chinese capital, everything is on track to stage safe Olympic Winter Games for all participants and the Chinese people, reported Juan Antonio Samaranch, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Beijing 2022. An update on the positive status of the preparations was also given to stakeholders by IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi and Olympic Games Operations Director Pierre Ducrey who, with their team, had just landed in Beijing today. Christophe Dubi emphasised that the closed-loop management system has begun operating, and the arrivals procedures have worked very smoothly. He also explained that test events have been held successfully, and learnings from these test events have been incorporated into Games planning to ensure excellent conditions for the athletes to perform at the highest level. It was stressed that now is a critical time for all Games participants who will travel to Beijing to be extra vigilant. They should already follow the measures laid out in the Beijing 2022 Playbooks, before their departure to Beijing. IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Beijing starts now for all of us. We must do everything to ensure that the Olympic dreams of athletes are not taken away just days before departure. The Playbooks are not just a rule book – they should now be a way of life”. During the calls, some of the Playbook rules were addressed again. The IOC Medical and Scientific Director, Dr Richard Budgett, emphasised that athletes and Games participants with an essential role can continue participating at the Olympic Games, even if they are defined as a close contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. A special regime for close contacts is in place for such cases, including testing twice a day and special arrangements for travel and dining. For example, conditions are in place to ensure the quality of meals, and athletes will also be able to draw on mental health support at all times. Athletes and Games participants who test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic will be discharged from quarantine once they have two consecutive negative COVID-19 (PCR) test results with at least 24 hours between the two samples and no other COVID-19 symptoms. They will then be released into the close-contact management system, i.e. tested twice per day, but allowed as a close contact to carry on their essential activities related to the Games without being isolated. For athletes, that means they would be able to continue training and competing. Each situation will be reviewed by a Medical Expert Panel (MEP) made up of top-level Chinese and international medical experts.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD (January 6, 2022):-The West Indies plays host to the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time in 2022 and Group A will provide a first look at the defending champions. Bangladesh sprung a surprise two years ago in South Africa as a team featuring the likes of Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shoriful Islam – both part of the side that claimed an historic Test victory for the senior team in New Zealand this month – won the title. They face ever-presents England, looking to secure a second title after the one they won back in 1998, as well as Canada and the United Arab Emirates. All the games will take place in St Kitts and Nevis, which previously hosted games at the 2007 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Bangladesh (13th appearance) Over the last eight editions of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC, Bangladesh have come through the first round on six occasions, culminating in the memorable overall victory two years ago in South Africa. On that occasion, they beat India in the final, the team who have caused them the most problems at Under-19 level. Prior to 2020, their previous best performance came in 2016 when a team captained by Mehidy Hasan Miraz finished third overall on home soil. Captaining the side this time around is Rakibul Hasan, part of the winning team in South Africa and the left-arm spinner will be key to the team building on a strong recent record. Canada (8th appearance) Canada head to the West Indies to take part in a fifth successive ICC U19 Men’s CWC, and an eighth overall. The North Americans will be hoping to improve on a best previous result of 11th place, which came in 2010. They have never made it past the first round and into the quarter-finals, and will be up against it here with the defending champions Bangladesh and England in the group. Skipper Mihir Patel was part of the team in South Africa, including scoring 90 against fellow Group A outfit UAE in a first-round defeat that was later avenged in the play-offs. England (14th appearance) It has now been 24 years since England’s sole ICC U19 Men’s CWC victory, but the team did reach the semi-finals on the way to third place back in 2014. Last time out, England failed to get through the first round, edged out in a group also featuring Australia and the West Indies before going on to finish ninth with three wins in the play-offs. This year, Hampshire batter and skipper Tom Prest will be hopeful of a stronger showing for a completely new-look side coached by Richard Dawson. The team also features Barbados-born spinner Jacob Bethell, who will hope to impress on his return to the Caribbean, as well as fellow spinner Archie Lenham, who featured regularly for Sussex across all three formats in 2021 at the age of just 17. United Arab Emirates (3rd appearance) The United Arab Emirates have qualified for the ICC U19 Men’s CWC for the second edition running, and third overall having hosted the event in 2014. Last time around, the UAE got the better of Canada in the first round, but then fell to the same opponent in the 13th-place play-off, so they will be a familiar rival. Full international Alishan Sharafu, a batting all-rounder, will captain the side, having been part of the squad two years ago. He has since gone on to represent the UAE at T20I and ODI level and will bring plenty of experience to the side as one of two returning players, along with 17-year-old wicket-keeper and opener Kai Smith, who was just 15 when he played in this event in South Africa. Group A fixtures 15 January - Canada v UAE, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis 16 January - Bangladesh v England, Warner Park Cricket Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis 18 January - England v Canada, Warner Park Cricket Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis 20 January - England v UAE, Warner Park Cricket Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis; 20 January - Bangladesh v Canada, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis 22 January - Bangladesh v UAE, Warner Park Cricket Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis

Bipin Dani Things seem to have turned around for Virat Kohli very fast. As if off-the-field issues with the BCCI weren’t enough, he now has to deal with an upper back spasm too. The back problem not only ruled him out of the second Test against South Africa but also will have him waiting for a few more weeks to play his 100th Test. This is not the first time Kohli is having a back problem. “I’ve had disc issues since 2011,” he’d once said. In fact, Kohli’s back pain has troubled him more in the last three years, due to which he’s even had to miss a few matches. Ramji Srinivasan, a trainer who’s worked with the Indian team for several years, thinks Kohli needs to train smart rather than train hard. He then elaborates on what he calls ‘smart training’. “Smart training is basically an understanding of the mind and body, and to sync your workout with your biorhythm and work on how you feel on a particular day. It depends on the physical and mental sync on a particular session and how you manipulate the program according to the need of the day,” states Ramji. “So, rather than doing the same routine repeatedly, which is hard training, you focus on how you train, what you train on, why you train, when you train, etc.” The long and short of back pains The short-term solution for lower back pain in sportspersons is rest. However, according to leading strength and conditioning specialist Deckline Leitão, strengthening and observation/management of overall cricket and fitness load is the long-term solution. Deckline has worked with several Olympic athletes including Badminton World Championship bronze-medallist Lakshya Sen, who also used to suffer from lower back pain. “As cricketers and sportspersons grow older, they have to focus on being physically sound by focusing on recovery, avoiding overtraining and fancy fitness exercises, and knowing that peaking at the right time for competition is the key,” says Deckline. In fact, lower back pain is one of the prime reasons for players’ reduced performance and them missing matches. “Appropriate diagnosis by a good orthopaedic spine surgeon, basic initial rehabilitation with a physiotherapist, long-term balanced strengthening with specialists and managing overall cricket practice/competition load is the way forward,” adds Deckline. “Erratic and unplanned training for older athletes and players can stifle their playing as they don’t recover as quickly. Older players must remember that their bodies have already undergone great wear and tear over the years.” Clearly, exercise can make or break your body. Balance is the key.

Sports Bulletin Report Mount Maunganui, New Zealand (January 5, 2022):-Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets in the first Test at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Wednesday, as they got their target of 40 runs after losing their two batters. New Zealand could score only 169 runs in their second innings. Lanky fast bowler Ebadot Hussain snared six Kiwis after conceding 46 runs. Hosts restart their innings today morning, as they were 147 for five at the close of day-4. Yesterday, Will Young and Taylor had added 73 runs for the third wicket as New Zealand had got down to the business of wiping out the 130-run deficit. But shortly after Young reached his second fifty in the game, he fell to Ebadot's good-length delivery, which opened up one end for Bangladesh. Ebadot struck again a ball later when he clean bowled Henry Nicholls, and in the next over, had Tom Blundell out lbw. New Zealand lost three wickets for no runs, in the space of seven Ebadot deliveries, and that was where the match was decided for Bangladesh. Bangladesh took their time reaching the 40-run target, in 16.5 overs, during an extended first session. Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto were dismissed caught behind, with Ross Taylor taking a superb catch off Shanto's outside edge. Fittingly, Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh's highest run-getter in Tests and their most experienced cricketer scored the winning runs, with captain Mominul Haque at the other end. Bangladesh 458 (Mominul 88, Litton 86, Boult 4-85) and 42 for 2 (Shanto 17, Mominul 13*, Mushfiqur 5*) beat New Zealand 328 (Conway 122, Nicholls 75, Shoriful 3-69, Mehidy 3-86) and 169 (Young 69, Taylor 40, Ebadot 6-46, Taskin 3-36) by eight wickets