Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF) has suspended the office bearer of the Karachi Basketball Association (KBBA) Ghulam Mohammad Khan on the grounds of regulatory violations and misconduct, and recommended Senior Vice President Mohammad Yaqoob as his interim successor.According to a spokesman for PBBF, this decision was taken in the General Council Meeting of the PBBF, which took place here at a local hotel on Sunday. The meeting saw the suspension of Ghulam Mohammad Khan, President of the Karachi Basketball Association (KBBA). Amidst this central decision, the PBBF council also formed a Scrutiny Committee, as the committee was given the task of assessing the clubs in Karachi, aiming to pave the way for transparent elections within the next 90 days for KBBA, followed by elections for the Sindh Basketball Association.Further disciplinary actions were imposed on two KBBA officials, Zafar Iqbal and Zain Ul Abideen, who faced a three-year ban and a fine for severe misconduct and inappropriate behavior during the Divisional Basketball Championship Grade B in Quetta. Usman Paracha from Khanewal was banned for falsely representing PBBF and misconduct.Three players from MEPCO, a subsidiary of WAPDA, were banned and fined for illegitimately representing themselves as part of the Multan Division Basketball Association during the All-Punjab SONA Basketball Tournament in Rahim Yar Khan. Similarly, a player from LESCO, also a subsidiary of WAPDA was fined for using abusive language and misconduct during the recent WAPDA Inter Unit Basketball Tournament.Additional fines were levied on one player from Rawalpindi, two players from POF WAH and one player from another LESCO (subsidiary of WAPDA) for multiple violations of the PBBF’s transfer policy. Another player from the Rangers was also fined and banned for similar breaches.These five players are directed to submit affidavits affirming their commitment to not repeating such violations, with the stern warning that further infractions could lead to lifetime bans. Their current bans are conditional, to be lifted upon the payment of their respective fines.These actions underscore the PBBF’s firm commitment to enforcing strict standards and ensuring that basketball within Pakistan is governed by the principles of fairness and respect.PBBF also finalized the Calander of Activities & the implementation of Developmental programs for Players, coaches, Referees and statisticians in view of the upcoming South Asian Games in Pakistan. 

Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): The Women’s Indoor Asia Cup 2024 came to an end with Thailand claiming the title following a stunning 6-2 victory over Kazakhstan, and securing their spot at the upcoming FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2025, which will be played in Poreč, Croatia from 3-9 February 2025.As many as 9 teams competed in the Women’s Indoor Asia Cup 2024, in Chonburi, Thailand from 13-16 May 2024. Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Iran, Oman and Vietnam were placed in Pool A, while Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Singapore were placed in Pool B.Kazakhstan, 6 time winners of the competition were dominant in the Pool A, winning all their matches, with Malaysia finishing in second place and also qualifying for the semi-finals. In Pool B, winners of the previous edition of the competition, Thailand topped the table with a run of 3 straight victories, with Indonesia finishing second in the pool and qualifying for the semi-finals. In the first semi-final, Kazakhstan faced a stiff challenge from Indonesia, with the game tied at 3-goals apiece at the end of regulation time. But the Kazakhstan’s championship pedigree came in handy as they edged past their opponents in the shoot-outs to move on to the final. They were joined in the final by defending champions Thailand, who overcame a tough test from Malaysia, winning the second semi-final by a 2-1 margin. With just one spot available at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2025, the final was a battle not just for the title and the gold medal, but also a winner-takes-all contest for a spot at the World Cup next year. While most fans anticipated a closely fought affair between the two top teams in the competition, the final unfolded very differently. Thailand were dominant in attack and watertight in defence, securing a huge 6-2 win to claim their second consecutive title at the Women’s Indoor Asia Cup and qualifying for their first ever FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup! Coach of the title winning Thailand team, Esfandyar Safaei, spoke with us after the tournament and said, “Really happy with this victory and upon qualifying for our first ever FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup. This is a busy year with the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in November, which we will use to prepare for the Indoor World Cup in Croatia in February 2025 and hopefully get the best result any Asian team has achieved in the competition.”

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police cricket team thrashed Shalimar Cricket Academy by 7 wickets in a friendly T20 match at Islamabad Police Lines Headquarters cricket ground on Saturday.Shalimar won the toss and elected to bat first. They set a target of 158 runs in 20 overs per innings fixture. Abdul Jabbar scored 63 runs, and Shabir contributed 32 runs. Hamid Ali took 3 wickets while Waheed grabbed 2 wickets for Islamabad Police.In reply, the Islamabad police cricket team achieved the target of 163 runs in 16.5 overs after losing their three batters. Shahid scored 54 runs and Shahzaib 43 runs. Fawad, Faizan & Hammad took one wicket each.Sports officer Islamabad Police Shahid Saddique and President Shalimar Cricket Academy Mohammad Tahir appreciated the performance of both teams especially the player of the match Hamid Ali.

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.