Islamabad (Sports Bulletin):-India battled to a hard-fought heavyweight triumph over South Africa as the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup entered full swing on Saturday. The four-time champions edged a gripping Guyana clash against the 2014 winners as Yash Dhull and Vicky Ostwal starred to get their Caribbean campaign off to the perfect start. And that was just one game on a jam-packed day of action, as Joshua Cox’s majestic unbeaten century fired Ireland to an opening game victory over Uganda and United Arab Emirates toppled Canada in Group A. Zimbabwe powered past Papua New Guinea in Group C’s solitary Saturday fixture as the ICC U19 Men’s CWC – the undisputed international showpiece for the game’s newly-emerging talent – started to really hot up in West Indies. Dhull and Ostwal the heroes as India edge Group B battle with South Africa Vicky Ostwal of India poses after being named Player of the Match following the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup match between India and South Africa at Providence Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Georgetown, Guyana. Vicky Ostwal of India poses after being named Player of the Match following the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup match between India and South Africa at Providence Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Georgetown, Guyana. Saturday’s standout fixture did not disappoint as Dhull and Ostwal outlined their ICC U19 Men’s CWC precocity with eye-catching displays at Providence. After South African left-arm seamer Aphiwe Mnyanda had caused mayhem with the new ball to reduce India to 11 for two, captain Dhull strode to the crease and showcased all the fighting spirit that has seen India crowned champions on four occasions since the turn of the century. Dynamic Dhull struck a measured 82 to steer his side towards a competitive total as Kaushal Tambe (35), Shaik Rasheed (31) and Nishant Sindhu (27) also made important contributions. Mnyanda’s early menace was supplemented by fellow opening bowler Matthew Boast’s three for 40 as South Africa, ICC U19 Men’s CWC champions in 2014, dismissed India for 232 to leave the clash on a knife-edge at the interval. Rajvardhan Hangargekar set the tone in the second innings by dismissing Ethan-John Cunningham in the very first over but Dewald Brevis (65) and Valentine Kitime’s (25) half-century partnership kept the game in the balance. South African captain George Van Heerden made 36 in the middle order but fabulous figures of five for 28 from skilful left-arm spinner Ostwal ensured India continued to suffocate their opponents. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals as South Africa left themselves with too much to do and India, the only nation to win the ICC U19 Men’s CWC four times, got their latest campaign off to a flyer in the Caribbean. Cox catapults Ireland to comfortable win over Uganda Uganda delivered a valiant display of their ICC U19 Men’s CWC credentials but Cox’s first innings hundred proved the dollop of quality required to fire Ireland to victory in Georgetown. After arriving at the crease with the score at 40 for two, wicketkeeper Cox compiled a superb 111 not out off 113 balls to haul his team up to a total of 236 for nine. Two wickets apiece for Juma Miyaji, Pascal Murungi, Joseph Baguma and Matthew Musinguzi sought to reel the Irish in but ably assisted by Philippus le Roux (32), Cox put his team in a commanding position at the interval. Ugandan captain Pascal Murungi offered the underdogs a consistent glimmer of hope in the run chase but his knock of 63, bolstered by bowler Juma Miyaji’s blockbuster 38 at No.9, proved insufficient in causing a Group B upset. Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphries – who opened the bowling for Ireland – starred with the ball for Tim Tector’s team as his four wickets for just 25 runs helped halt the Ugandan momentum and cap a 39-run triumph. Patel innings proves in vain as UAE edge over the line Canada battled admirably in Basseterre but were unable to haul themselves to victory as UAE’s first innings score of 284 for seven proved enough. Ali Naseer’s destructive 73 off just 50 balls did the damage for Alishan Sharafu’s side after Punya Mehra’s well-judged 71 had put the wheels in motion for a strong first innings total. Ali Naseer of United Arab Emirates poses after being named Player of the Match following the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup match between Canada and the United Arab Emirates at Conaree Sports Club on January 15, 2022 in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Ali Naseer of United Arab Emirates poses after being named Player of the Match following the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup match between Canada and the United Arab Emirates at Conaree Sports Club on January 15, 2022 in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Canadians had UAE reeling at 47-3 but Mehra, Nilansh Keswani (39) and Sharafu (37) helped them recover to 174 for five. And then came all-rounder Naseer’s late innings pyrotechnics, as his brutal knock – at a strike rate of 146 – catapulted his team to a sizeable total. Mihir Patel’s Canada rallied, however, with the captain leading from the front as his fine innings of 96 off 105 balls kept them continually in contention. Wicketkeeper Anoop Chima (46) and lower-order batter Kairav Sharma (43) also offered resistance but two wickets each for Keswani, Sharafu, Adhitya Shetty and Jash Giyanani helped bowl Canada out for 235 to complete hard-fought 49-run victory. Bawa brilliance lays foundations for dominant Zimbabwe triumph Zimbabwe had too much firepower for Papua New Guinea as captain fantastic Emmanuel Bawa’s first innings century propelled them to victory in Port of Spain. The Zimbabweans racked up a formidable total of 321 for nine from their 50 overs before a polished all-round bowling performance completed a comprehensive 228-run victory. Papua New Guinea bowler Junior Morea dismissed opener Steven Saul early on but after Bawa entered the fray at 15 for one, he never looked back as his majestic hundred – off just 95 balls – helped haul his team to a match-winning score. Bawa and David Bennett (58) compiled a century stand for the third wicket while opening batter and wicketkeeper Panashe Taruvinga (36), along with Victor Chirwa and Connor Mitchell – who both scored 35 – also made contributions. And Barnabas Maha’s team never got going in response, with no batter mustering more than 15 runs as the wickets were shared equally among the Zimbabwean attack. Ngenyasha Zvinoera, Brian Bennett and Victor Chirwa all took two scalps apiece as Bawa’s side bowled the underdogs out with 15 overs remaining to crank up for Monday’s clash with Pakistan in perfect fashion.

Sports Bulletin LAHORE (January 15, 2022):-Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan WAPDA set to meet in the final of the National Kabaddi Championship (Circle Style) after winning their respect semifinals at Punjab Stadium Lahore on Saturday, as the final will be played on Sunday at the same venue. In the first semi-final, Pakistan Air Force defeated Punjab Police 51-37 points to reah in final while Pakistan WAPDA defeated Army 45-37 in the second semifinal. The championship is being held at Punjab Stadium Lahore in collaboration with Pakistan Kabaddi Federation and Higher Education Commission.

Ali Ahmed LAHORE (January 15, 2022):-Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has invited 45 players from different departments for the national training camp, which will commence from January 17 to February 14 at Johar Town Hockey Stadium Lahore. The aim of the camp is to train the boys for Asia Cup, which will be played in May this year. The overseas Pakistan hockey team coach has obtained the visa and would join the camp on January 17, 2022. Names of players: Goalkeepers: Mazhar Abbas (National Bank), Amjad Ali (Sui Southern Gas), Waqar (Wapda), Abdullah Ishtiaq (Mari Petroleum), Akmal Hussain (Wapda), Muneeb-ur-Rehman (Sui Southern Gas), Defenders: Mubashir Ali (WAPDA), Emad Shakeel Butt (National Bank), Abu Bakar Mahmood (National Bank), Mohammad Abdullah (Mari Petroleum), Hamad Anjum (WAPDA), Aqeel Ahmed (WAPDA), Tazeem Al Hassan (WAPDA), Arbaaz Ahmed (Mari Petroleum), Rizwan Ali (PAF), Midfielders / Forwards: Mohammad Umar Bhatta (WAPDA), Moin Shakeel (WAPDA), Mohammad Azfar Yaqoob (Sui Southern Gas), Ali Shan (Sui Southern Gas), Rana Waheed (WAPDA), Junaid Manzoor (National Bank), Ahmed Nadeem (Mari Petroleum), Afraz (Mari Petroleum), Ghazanfar Ali (Mari Petroleum), Ejaz Ahmed (WAPDA), Salman Razzaq (WAPDA), Abdul Hanan Shahid (WAPDA), Abdul Rehman (WAPDA), Adeel Latif (Sui Southern Gas), Roman Khan (Wapda), Abuzar (National Bank), Naveed Alam (Sui Southern Gas), Hamza Waheed (PAF), Ghazanfar Ali (Wapda), Abdul Manan (Sui Southern Gas), Mohibullah (WAPDA), Obaidullah (Sindh, WAPDA), Aleem Usman (WAPDA), Shahzeb Khan (Sindh), Hassan Amin (Multan), Shahzeb (Azad Kashmir), Abdul Rehman (PAF), Noheez Zahid Malik (National Bank), Samin (Sargodha, WAPDA) and Zakaria Hayat (PAF). Officials: National Hockey Training Camp Management Manager Olympian Khawaja Junaid, Head Coach National Hockey Team Sigfried Ekman, Assistant Coaches Ajmal Khan Lodhi (Sialkot), Olympian Syed Sameer Hussain (Karachi), Goalkeepers Coach Olympian Ahmed Alam (PIA), Physiotherapist Mohammad Aslam (WAPDA), Physical Trainer Mohammad Abid Amin (Lahore). The players have been instructed to report any case to Manager Khawaja Junaid by noon on January 17.

Peshawar (Sports Report) Department of Sports Sciences Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan has won the first Mardan Girls Volleyball Championship by defeating Government Girls Degree College Sheikh Maltoon Town in the final. As many as 16 teams of girls colleges and schools from five tehsils of Mardan participated in the championship which was jointly organized by the Regional Sports Office and the district administration. Assistant Commissioner Saman Abbas inaugurated the championship. In the closing ceremony, Member Provincial Assembly Zahir Shah distributed prizes among the players. Additional Deputy Commissioner Naik Mohammad, Regional Sports Officer Jamshed Baloch, Chairman Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Imtiaz Ayub, Dr. Farooq Hussain, Chairman, Sports Department, Salman, Administrator, Mardan Sports Complex, Madam Gulnar and Ayesha Tahir, Assistant Commissioner were also present on the occasion. Earlier in the first semi-final, Department of Sports Sciences Abdul Wali Khan University defeated Government Girls Degree College Mardan while in the second semi-final Girls Degree College Sheikh Maltoon defeated Sports Club and qualified for the final. MPA Zahir Shah Toro and ADC Naik Mohammad paid tributes to the Regional Sports Office Mardan for organizing the championship and assured all possible cooperation in organizing the competitions.

Ayaz Raza Afridi PESHAWAR (January 15, 2022):-Zeeshan Zeb and Roshna Mehboob have lifted the titles of Comeback International Squash Championship that held at Qamar Zaman Squash Complex Peshawar on Saturday. Secretary General Wing Commander Armghan Aziz and Chief Executive of Comebacks Omar Saeed were the special guests who distributed the prizes among the players. Director of Comebacks Arif Ali Pakistan Squash Federation Vice President and Chairman KP Squash Association Qamar Zaman President Association Education and Secretary Higher Education Dad Khan Secretary Mansoor Zaman Senior Vice President Ehsanullah Khan Associate Secretary Sajjad Khan Finance Secretary Minister Muhammad Sher Bahadur Chief Organizer and Chief Referee Munawar Zaman Executive Members Fazal Khalil Director Coaches Mohammad Wasim Amjad Khan Mohammad Adil Faqir Nematullah Sajid Khan Alamzeb and other personalities were present on this occasion. In the men's final, former British Championship National Champion Zeeshan Zeb won 3-1, as Khushal Riaz could not complete the match due to injury. In the women's final, Roshna Mehboob of Punjab defeated Noor-ul-Ain Ijaz at 11-4, 11-13 and 11-5.

Karachi (Sports Report):-Waheed Balouch earned 5 strokes lead with 203 under par 13 score in the third round of Bank Al Habib’s 11th Rashid D Habib Memorial National Professional Golf Tournament 2022 at Karachi golf club. After Friday’s cut, 54 professionals participated in round 3 of Saturday. Waheed Baloch of KGC increased his lead on third day’s leaderboard and carded 203-13 under par. Defending champion Mohammad Shabbir succeeded to second place while sharing 208-8 under par along with Hamza Amin. Ansar Mehmood is at 4th position with 210-6 under par. Out of 27 golfers in Senior Professionals category, Mohammad Akram of Gymkhana club leads on first day with 69-3 under par. He is followed by Asghar Ali of Gymkhana with 71-1 under par. After Round-1, 17 golfers have qualified in this category to play in Round-2 on Sunday. Mohammad Saqib of Lahore Garrison Gymkhana with 8 over par is leading 23 golfers who participated in Junior Professionals category today. Jawad Ahmed from Peshawar is following him with 9 over par. Ten golfers qualified for final round. Final round of the tournament will be played on Sunday to decide the winner of the tournament.

Asif Abbasi The defending champion of the Australian Open Tennis Tournament, 34 years old Serbian guy Novak Djokovic has announced to withdraw from the tournament, as the Australian immigration has revoked his visa once again. Minister Alex Hawke said that he had exercised his broad powers under section 133C (3) of the Migration Act to cancel Djokovic’s visa “on health and good order grounds” basis that it was in the public interest to do so. “In making this decision, I carefully considered information provided to me by the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and Djokovic.” “The Morrison government is firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.” Judge Anthony Kelly, who overturned the first cancellation of Djokovic’s visa on Monday earlier this week, will again preside over the case. He also faces 3 year automatic ban if he denied visa again. But immigration minister can wave off using his powers. Djokovic arrived in Melbourne on January 5 and promptly had his visa canceled for entering the country without a valid reason why he couldn't be vaccinated against Covid-19. He spent several nights in a detention hotel in Melbourne, which also houses dozens of refugees. His lawyers challenged the decision and won the legal battle on Monday, on the basis Djokovic's had covid on December 16 after attending kids’ tennis tournament. But questions have been raised on Djokovic’s behavior after testing positive for Covid-19 on December 16 as he had attended some events after 16 December and on his previous visa application that he had not visited in last 14 days to any country.  

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD:-The three-time champions breezed past West Indies by six wickets to get their tournament off to a flyer and inflict an early blow on the hosts in Guyana. Cooper Connolly’s side required just 40.1 overs to take all ten West Indian wickets and spearheaded by opener Teague Wyllie, chased down their target of 170 to win with ease. And in the other game on the opening day of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC – so often a breeding ground for the game’s future superstars – it was Sri Lanka who got off to a winning start as they toppled Scotland by 40 runs. Dunith Wellalage’s side posted a competitive first innings total of 218 before economical middle over spells from their versatile attack – including five wickets for captain Wellalage – skittled the Scots for just 178 inside 49 overs. Wonderful Wyllie fires Australia over the line West Indies were punished for a below-par batting performance as Australia cruised to a comfortable triumph at Providence. After Ackeem Auguste’s side had been bowled out for just 169 – with almost ten full overs to spare – Wyllie’s polished 86 not out helped Australia complete the most impressive display of the day and win within 45 overs. Australia’s seamers had caused havoc with the new ball as opening bowlers Tom Whitney – three for 20 – and William Salzmann – one for 19 – reduced the hosts to 12 for three after 5.1 overs. Skipper Auguste’s defiant 57, bolstered by wicket-keeper Rivaldo Clarke’s 37, propelled them to a fourth wicket partnership of 95 but wickets at regular intervals after Clarke’s dismissal proved the West Indians’ downfall. Australian captain Connolly and off-spinner Nivethan Radhakrishna took three wickets apiece as West Indies, winners of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC in 2016, were unable to muster a match-winning total. And that inability was ruthlessly capitalised on by the Australians, who overcame the early dismissals of top order batters Corey Miller and Isaac Higgins to power to a straightforward victory. Wyllie’s impressive innings was assisted by Radhakrishnan’s 31 and Connolly’s 23 as Australia, crowned champions back in 1988, 2002 and 2010, got their tournament off to the perfect start in the Caribbean. Wellalage inspires Sri Lanka to hard-fought victory Sri Lanka executed a skilful defence of their total as captain fantastic Wellalage and his bowlers fired them to victory in Georgetown. Wellalage’s canny left-arm spin saw him rack up formidable figures of five for 27 from nine overs as Scotland were unable to ever get going in pursuit of their 219 target. Sakuna Nidarshana Liyanage was the hero with the bat for the Sri Lankans, striking a majestic run-a-ball 85 to haul his side up to a total that left the game intriguingly poised at the halfway mark. Raveen de Silva (30) delivered some important runs from the tail while contributions from top order batters Chamindu Wickramasinghe (28) and Sadisha Rajapaksa (24) left Charlie Peet’s Scots with considerable work to do. Sean Fischer-Keogh (3-56), Jack Jarvis and Oliver Davidson – two wickets apiece – starred with the ball but underdogs Scotland were unable to mount a viable attempt with the bat as Sri Lanka’s spinners turned the screw. Spearheaded by Wellalage’s brilliance, the 2000 runners-up suffocated the Scots as Shevon Daniel (2-16), Matheesha Pathirana and Wanuja Sahan also took important wickets. Only middle-order batter Jarvis, who notched 55 off 61 balls after arriving at the crease with scoreboard pressure intensifying, scored over 20 for Scotland after the top four failed to fire in the face of some accurate Sri Lankan bowling. A flurry of late wickets saw Scotland eventually dismissed with eight balls of the innings remaining, 40 runs short of Sri Lanka who will look to build valuable momentum ahead of their mouth-watering Monday meeting with fellow Friday winners Australia. Saturday 15 January matches India v South Africa, Guyana National Stadium, Guyana Ireland v Uganda, Everest Cricket Club, Guyana Canada v UAE, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis Zimbabwe v PNG, Queens Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (January 14, 2022):-Pakistan Air Force (PAF), WAPDA, Army and Police moved into the semifinals of the 42nd National Kabaddi Championship after posting comprehensive victories in the quarterfinals at Punjab Stadium Lahore. In the first quarterfinal, Pakistan Air Force overcame Higher Education Commission with the score of 55-34 while WAPDA beat South Punjab at 61-32 in the second quarterfinal, as first two quarterfinals was held on Thursday at the same venue. However, on Friday, in the 3rd quarterfinal Pakistan Army beat Center Punjab 52-35 while Police got rid of North Punjab at 47-42 in a close contest. Semifinals will be played on Saturday, as PAF will meet WAPDA while Army will face Police in the second semifinal. Results (Quarterfinals): 1st Pakistan Air Force beat Higher Education Commission 55-34 2nd WAPDA beat South Punjab 61-32 3rd Pakistan Army beat Center Punjab 52-35 4th Police beat North Punjab 47-42

Bipin Dani Former West Indies captain and the ICC match-referee received his knighthood award for his services to the game of cricket Wednesday. The Clive Llyod knighthood investiture was performed on Wednesday by the Duke of Cambridge at Windsor Castle. Also felicitated was Eoin Morgan, who received his CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).  Windies great Llyod has dedicated his knighthood award to his countrymen. Speaking exclusively over telephone from London on Thursday morning, he said, "I feel honoured and blessed. This honour is for my country, my fans and most of all for my family. It was a memorable day and one which I will not forget".