Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Pakistan cricket selectors today announced 16 players and five reserves for the three Tests against Australia, which will be played in Rawalpindi (4-8 March), Karachi (12-16 March) and Lahore (21-25 March). From the series against Bangladesh, three changes have been made in the national squad. Haris Rauf, who was in the side for the South Africa and Zimbabwe Tests in 2021, has returned to replace off-spinner Bilal Asif, while Shan Masood, who last played in New Zealand in the 2020-21 season, has taken over from Abid Ali, who is completing his rehabilitation after being diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome. Yasir Shah has been added to the reserve pool. Test players who are not involved in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2022 will assemble in Karachi on Wednesday, 16 February, for a training camp that will be held at the National Stadium. Names of players: Babar Azam (Captain-Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan), Zahid Mahmood (Sindh) Names of Reserves: Kamran Ghulam (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Naseem Shah (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Yasir Shah (Balochistan). Chief selector Mohammad Wasim said: “We have opted for consistency for the important home series against Australia and changes have only been made where absolutely necessary. This is to give the boys confidence, reward them for their impressive performances in the longer version of the game in 2021 and continue to build the side for the future. “These are the best available, most talented and in-form players in the domestic circuit. I am confident they will put up an impressive performance against a formidable Australia side.” Players' Support Personnel: Mansoor Rana (manager), Saqlain Mushtaq (head coach), Shahid Aslam (assistant to head coach), Mohammad Yousuf (batting coach), Shaun Tait (bowling coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Drikus Saaiman (trainer/strength and conditioning coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Emmad Ahmed Hameed (media and digital manager), Col (retd) Usman Anwari (security manager), Talha Ejaz (analyst) and Malang Ali (masseur).

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-ITF Pakistan AJ Towers World Junior Tennis Championships moved into the semi finals phase, as Wednesday saw close contest in the quarterfinal stage that held here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue, Islamabad. Major upsets were made when both top & second seeds were eliminated in well contested matches.  The unseeded Russian Nikita Bortnichek toppled top seed Amirali Ghavam from Iran in a one sided affair of the day 6-2 7-5. Nikita served and returned well easing his way to move into the semi final stage. In the second quarter final, another unseeded Russian Ivan Iutkin sidelined the 2nd seed Yunes Talavar from Iran and confirmed his spot for the semi final. In the third quarter final, Macheij Zarebski from Poland struggled hard to win his encounter against Sami Zeb Khan from Pakistan in a thrilling three set match of the day 6-4 2-6 6-3 whereas talented 5th seed from Kazakhstan Aldiyar Abzan won his match against 4th seed Ruslan Serazhetdinov of Russia in a well contested three set match 6-2 0-6 6-2.  In the Girls Singles, Top seed Andra Izabella Sirbu (ROU) proved too good against her opponent Renata Garaeva (RUS) and qualified for the semi final without conceding a single game 6-0 6-0, whereas 2nd Seed Tamara Ermakova (RUS) proved her metal against Tatyana Chsherbakova (KAZ) in a straight set match 6-4 6-2.  Results: (Boys Singles) Quarter Finals: Ivan Iutkin (RUS) beat Yunes Talavar (IRI) 7-6(5), 6-1 Amirali Ghavam (IRI) beat Nikita Bortnichek (RUS) 6-2, 7-5 Aldiyar Abzhan (KAZ) beat Ruslan Serazhetdinov (RUS) 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 Maciej Zarebski (POL) beat Sami Zeb Khan (PAK) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 Results: (Girls Singles) Quarter Finals: Abdra Izabella Sirbu (ROU) beat Renata Garaeva (RUS) 6-0, 6-0 Tamara Ermakova (RUS) beat Tatyana Chsherbakova (KAZ) 6-4, 6-2 Melisa Ugur (TUR) beat Avrora Volkova (RUS) 6-3, 6-4 Olga Sorochkina (RUS) beat Munisa Ashurbekova (UZB) 6-2, 6-4 Results: (Boys Doubles) Quarter Finals: Dev Kanbargimath (ROU) & Arila Kayra Tuna (TUR) beat Esref Kaan Kacar (TUR) & Mehmet Onur Turgut (TUR) 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 Ivan Iutkin (RUS) & Nikita Safonov (RUS) beat Aldiyar Abzan (KAZ) & Mohammad Zaryab Khan (PAK) 7-5, 3-6, 10-8 Nikita Bortnichek (RUS) & Ruslan Serazhetdinov (RUS) beat Hasheesh Kumar (PAK) & Huzaima Abdul Rehman (PAK) 7-5, 7-6(3) Amir Ali Ghavam (IRI) & Yunes Talavar (IRI) beat Hamid Israr Gul (PAK) & Maciej Zarebski (POL) 3-6, 7-6(5), 10-5 Results: (Girls Doubles) Quarter Finals: Taira Abildayeva (KAZ) & Artina Gashi (GBR) beat Amna Ali Qayum (PAK) & Sajid Sheeza (PAK) 6-1, 6-3 Andra Izabella Sirbu (ROU) & Olga Sorochkina (RUS) beat Aleksandra Bortnichek (RUS) & Renata Garaeva (RUS) 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 Sa Rang Lim (KOR) & Seo Hyeon Park (KOR) beat Tatyana Chsherbakova (KAZ) & Tamara Ermakova (RUS) 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 Munisa Ashurekova (UZB) & Melisa Ugur (TUR) beat Valda Budkina (RUS) & Avrora Volkova (RUS) 2-6, 7-6(3), 10-3.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Australia’s Ellyse Perry is back at the top of the list of all-rounders in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings after a fine show in the second ODI of their three-match series against England. The 31-year-old scored a steady 64-ball 40 and took three for 12 in seven overs to win the Player of the Match award in Melbourne. The performance helped her move 47 rating points ahead of England’s Nat Sciver to the number one position. Perry had conceded the top spot to Sciver after holding the top spot for 1,535 days from 12 July 2017 to 24 September 2021 and has not been out of the top two in terms of all-rounders in ODI cricket since November 2014. In the latest weekly update that considers the first two matches of the Australia-England series as well as the third and fourth South Africa versus West Indies matches and comes less than a month ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in New Zealand, Australia batter Beth Mooney and England spinner Sophie Ecclestone too have made significant gains. Mooney’s innings of 73 in the first ODI has helped her up into the top three for the first time in her six-year career. She started the series in eighth place and is now in the top three in both ODI and T20I cricket as she is placed second in T20Is, just two points behind India opener Shafali Verma. Ecclestone is another player featuring in the top three in both lists. Despite England losing the first two ODIs, the left-arm spinner bowled economically and is now up to third with a career-best 717 rating points. She currently tops the T20I rankings with 761 points, 39 clear of team-mate Sarah Glenn.

Aamir Ali Janjua DUBAI-UAE:-The nominees for ICC Players of the Month for men’s and women’s international cricket have been announced here. Featuring in the men’s category are Under-19 future star Dewald Brevis from South Africa, Ebadot Hossain from Bangladesh, and Keegan Petersen from South Africa. The women’s category, features captain of the Sri Lankan T20I squad, Chamari Athapaththu, West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin, and captain of the England squad Heather Knight. Dewald Brevis - South Africa Nicknamed Baby AB, South Africa’s Dewald Brewis left a mark in the recently concluded ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup. In the course of the tournament, Brewis made a magnificent 65 against India, followed by a century against Uganda, a 96 against Ireland, a 97 against England and a sublime 138 against Bangladesh to round his tournament. With a total of 506 runs in the tournament, he finished as the leading run-scorer of the tournament at an average of 84.33 and now holds the record for the most runs in a single edition of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup. He was also adjudged as the Player of the Tournament.   Ebadot Hossain – Bangladesh Eleven Tests, 18 wickets and a career-best of 6 for 46, made Ebadot Hossain the newest sensation of Bangladesh cricket. The 27-year old’s maiden five-wicket haul helped Bangladesh inflict a huge historic eight wicket win over the ICC World Test champions New Zealand in the first Test at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui last month. Ebadot Hossain came into the Test match with 11 wickets in 10 games after making his international debut against the Kiwis in 2019. In the first innings, Hossain picked just one wicket for 75 runs but when the Kiwis batted for a second time, Ebadot Hossain delivered his career best performance, as the right-arm pacer dismissed Will Young, Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell within a space of 11 balls to put Bangladesh on top at stumps on Day 4. Keegan Petersen – South Africa Keegan Petersen steered South Africa to a stunning Test series win over India last month. Petersen scored a superb 82 as South Africa completed a seven-wicket victory in the third Test and a 2-1 series win over India on a spiteful Newlands pitch having chased down their challenging target of 212. Petersen, who was the leading scorer in the series with 276 runs, was the anchor for the home side on a difficult wicket for batting and was also adjudged the Player of the Series. Chamari Athapaththu – Sri Lanka In the ICC Commonwealth Games Qualifiers held in Malaysia last month, captain Chamari Athapaththu struck 57 off just 29 balls to lead Sri Lanka to a nine-wicket win on day three of the tournament earning her also the title of the Player of the Match. Athapaththu was also the leading run-scorer in the ICC Commonwealth Games Qualifier in Malaysia as Sri Lanka won all four of their matches. Deandra Dottin – West Indies Deandra Dottin smashed her career best ODI score of 150 from just 158 balls – a superb innings with 18 fours and four sixes. In doing so, she set West Indies women up in the opening ODI against South Africa in Johannesburg. Her 186-run third wicket stand with Hayley Mathews took the team past 200. Mathews fell after her half-century, but Dottin carried on pushing West Indies to 234 for 3 in the 46th over before rain intervened. The second ODI between West Indies Women and South Africa ended in a pulsating tie and a Super Over was played to decide the winner. Opener Deandra Dottin scored a quickfire 37 off 31 balls at the top of the order, whilst Chedean Nation helped herself to 35. And a super over was played to break the tie and decide the winner. Off the first delivery of the Super Over, Dottin scored a couple. The second delivery was bowled on off stump, and Dottin played the scoop as the ball went past short fine leg for four. The right-hander smashed the third delivery over the bowler’s head and the ball sped away to the boundary. Then came a massive six over Long On. The bowler, Shabnam Ismail bowled a slower delivery, but Dottin had spotted it early and sent the ball soaring into the stands earning her instant praise from the global cricket community. Heather Knight – England Last month Knight played a single Test against Australia as part of the Women’s Ashes Tour. An unbeaten hundred from Heather Knight, her second test century had helped England stay afloat on day two of the only Women's Ashes Test at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. Having lost openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Tammy Beaumont early, England were 23/2 when Heather Knight and Nat Sciver looked to put on some resistance and bring some stability to the innings. In between several dismissals, Knight continued to score runs, finding boundaries including a slog sweep for six. At tea, England were still at risk, needing 67 more runs to avoid a follow-on. While Charlotte Dean resisted for a bit, putting on a 30-run stand with Knight, Australia struck twice in six overs before Knight and Ecclestone joined hands and revived the innings a bit with a half-century stand. By the time Anya Shrubsole was dismissed, Knight had gone into the nineties. With Ecclestone appearing more at ease than the rest of the batters, Knight grew in confidence and attained her second Test century.

Sports Bulletin Report Lausanne, Switzerland: Both the Netherlands and India men's teams showed master-classes in their particular styles of hockey in the first of a series of FIH Hockey Pro League matches taking place in Potchefstroom, South Africa. India tormented France with their free running and swift changes in the direction of attack, while the Dutch were the epitome of elegant, clinical and relentless hockey as they contained and then overwhelmed the ambitions of South Africa. The national men’s team of India men hit the ground running in their first match of Season Three in the FIH Hockey Pro League. A cagey first quarter was followed by 45 minutes of creative, controlled and entertaining hockey that left France with few opportunities to open their own scoring account in their first FIH Pro League outing. Head Coach Frederic Soyez explained ahead of the match that his team had only had limited time to prepare for their entry into the competition but his players were very aware that this is an invaluable learning opportunity ahead of a World Cup and a home Olympic Games (Paris 2024) Certainly, the India side put on a masterclass in attacking hockey during this encounter. The damage was done in the second quarter. Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a beautifully taken penalty corner that evaded the outstretched foot of Arthur Thieffry in the France goal. Speaking after the game, India captain Manpreet Singh said: ‘We are really happy because France are a good team and we knew we couldn’t give them any opportunities. In the first quarter we were a bit sloppy but after that we played a good game and scored goals. With that, we grew in confidence.’ Player of the Match Thijs van Dam (NED) said: 'Today we played a really great match. We have been here 10 days already and we have trained hard and finally we can play some matches.' Results put Netherlands on the top of the table, one point ahead of Belgium. India, with one win from one match sit in fourth place. FIH Hockey Pro League Result:  Men’s FIH Hockey Pro League France 0-5 India Player of the Match: Akashdeep Singh (IND)) Umpires: Annelize Rostron (RSA), Wanri Venter (RSA) Sean Rapaport (RSA - video umpire) South Africa 1-11 Netherlands Player of the Match: Thijs van Dam (NED) Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA) Annalize Rostron (RSA - video umpire)

Sports Bulletin Report LONDON:-England Men's selection panel, consisting of Sir Andrew Strauss (interim managing director of England Men's Cricket), interim head coach Paul Collingwood and head scout James Taylor, have named a 16-strong squad for the three-match Test tour of the Caribbean starting next month. Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes returns to the squad for the first time in under a year when he played the fourth Test in Ahmedabad last March against India. Eight players – James Anderson, Dom Bess, Sam Billings, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed and Dawid Malan - who featured in the recent Ashes series, have missed out on selection. Andrew Strauss said: "With the start of a new cycle, it has allowed the selection panel to refresh the Test squad with a particular focus on competing away from home. "We felt that it was time to draw a line after the Ashes defeat, look forward and give some impetus with an influx of new players. "In respect of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, I want to emphasise this does not mean the end for them as England players. We feel that it is important to look at some exciting new bowling potential and give some added responsibility to other players who have featured previously. No one doubts the quality and experience that James and Stuart bring to the England set-up. It will be up to the new managing director and permanent head coach to decide on whether they will be involved this summer and beyond. "This selection of this squad is the start of a process and a journey to get England Test cricket back to where it needs to be, and the hard work starts now." The three-match Test series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship. Joe Root's team will be looking to climb the rankings after a disappointing start to the second edition of the Championship. At the end of the two-year cycle, the top two teams will compete in the ICC World Test Championship Final due to be staged in 2023. Names of selected players: Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain, Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Alex Lees (Durham), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham). Durham opener Alex Lees and Yorkshire seamer Matthew Fisher are called-up for the first time.  Schedule: March 1-4 – Four-day warm-up match at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua March 8-12 – 1st Test, West Indies v England at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua March 16-20 – 2nd Test, West Indies v England at Kensington Oval, Barbados March 24-28 – 3rd Test, West Indies v England at National Cricket Stadium, Grenada

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-Solitary Pakistani lad Semi Zeb Khan booked his berth in the quarterfinal stage of Boys’ Singles event of the ongoing ITF Pakistan AJ Towers World Junior Tennis Championships at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Tuesday. Rest of three boys and girls failed to reach in top-eight phase of the international tennis juniors’ fixture. Unseeded Pakistan youngster Semi Zeb Khan, the upcoming proficient caused a major upset during the course of 2nd round encounter with 3rd Seed Nikita Safonov from Russia with the score-line of 6-4 and 6-2. The 6th Seed Hamid Israr (PAK) lost his encounter against Maciej Zarebeski (POL) in straight set 6-4 6-3 whereas another unseeded Ivan Lutkin from Russia ousted the 7th Seed Aril Kayra Tuna from Turkey in one sided affair 6-0 6-1. Meanwhile, the 5th Seed Aldlyar Abzhan from Kazakhstan struggled hard to win his match against Mehmet Onur Turgut (TUR) in a thrilling three setter 4-6 6-3 7-5. Upcoming Ahmad Nael Qureshi (PAK) played excellent tennis against 4th Seed Ruslan Serazhetdinov (RUS). Ahmad lost the first set 6-2, but bounced back in the same fashion to level the match at 1-1 set all. In the final set Ruslan played excellent game of tennis and did not allow his opponent to settle down and won the third set without conceding a single game and qualified for the quarter final. In the Girls singles, 3rd Seed Melisa Ugar (TUR) struggled hard to win her encounter against Eunsoo Lee (KOR) in a well contested three set match. Eunsoo Lee won the first set 6-2 by breaking 3rd and 5th game of Melisa. In the 2nd set both the players held their respective serve till 5-5 all; Melisa played some excellent shots and broke the 13th game of Eunsoo and won the set at 7-5. The match was decided in the third set which was won by Melisa at 6-4. Results: Boys Singles (Round-II) Aldlyar Abzhan (KAZ) beat Mehmet Onur Turgut (TUR) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 Amir Ali Ghavam (IRI) beat Asad Zaman (PAK) 6-1, 6-1 Yunes Talavar (IRI) beat Bilal Asim (PAK) 6-4, 7-5 Maciej Zarebski (POL) beat Hamid Israr Gul (PAK) 6-4, 6-3 Ruslan Serazhetdinov (RUS) beat Ahmd Nael Qureshi (PAK) 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 Ivan Iutkin (RUS) beat Aril Kayra Tuna (TUR) 6-0, 6-1 Semi Zeb Khan (PAK) beat Nikita Safonov (RUS) 6-4, 6-2 Nikita Bortnichjek (RUS) beat Dev Kangargimatch (ROU) 6-2, 6-4 Results: Girls Singles (Round-II) Melisa Ugur (TUR) beat Eunsoo Lee (KOR) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 Olga Sorochkina (RUS) beat Seo Hyeon Park (KOR) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 Tatyana Chsherbakova (KAZ) beat Amara Khan (PAK) 6-0, 6-0 Tamara Ermakova (RUS) beat Artina Gashi (GBR) 6-3, 6-4 Munisa Ashurbekova (UZB) beat Aleksandra Bortnichek (RUS) 7-5, 6-1 Renata Gareva (RUS) beat Natalia Zaman (PAK) 6-1, 6-1  Avrora Volkova (RUS) beat Amna Ali Qayum (PAK) 6-2, 6-3 Andra IZabella Sirbu (ROU) beat Sa Rang Lim (KOR) 6-3, 6-2 Results: Boys Doubles (Round-I) Hamid Israr Gul (PAK) & Maciej Zarebski (POL) beat Shehryaar Anees (PAK) & Asad Zaman (PAK) 6-1, 6-1 Hasheesh Kumar (PAK) & Huzaima Abdul Rehman (PAK) beat Mohammad Ali (CAN) & Ibrahim Sohail (PAK) 6-2, 6-1 Aldlyar Abzhan (KAZ) & Mohammad Zaryab Khan (PAK) beat Balil Asim (PAK) & Abdul Hanan (PAK) 6-3, 6-4 Nikita Bortnichek (RUS) & Ruslan Serazhetdinov (RUS) beat Mohammad Ibrahim Ashraf (PAK) & Athesham Humayun (PAK) 6-2, 6-4.

Sports Bulletin Report Canberra, Australia:-Excitement is building for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, with General Ticket allocations for two match-days sold out on the first day of going on sale to the public (Monday, February 7). General Ticket allocations have all been sold for India v Pakistan at the MCG on 23 October and the double-header that features South Africa v Bangladesh and India v Group A runner-up at the SCG on 27 October. This comes after 200,000 tickets were sold during the pre-sale period across the 45 matches being played in Australia from 16 October – 13 November later this year. Such was the demand to see one of world cricket’s biggest rivalries, the allocations for the India v Pakistan match were sold within five minutes of going on sale. Over 800,000 fans are expected to attend the global showcase for men’s T20 cricket when it comes to Australia for the first time, and there is still plenty of opportunity for fans to secure seats to all other fixtures in the general public sale. The top five selling matches are:  1. India v Pakistan, Sunday 23 October (MCG)  2. The Final, Sunday 13 November at the (MCG)  3. South Africa v Bangladesh & India v Group A runner-up, Thursday 27 October (SCG)  4. Australia v New Zealand, Saturday 22 October (SCG)  5. Australia v England & Afghanistan v Group B runner-up, Friday 28 October (MCG)

Jamil Siraj Canberra, Australia:-The National Selection Panel (NSP) of Cricket Australia named an 18-player Test squad for the tour of Pakistan, which will start at the end of this month February 2022. Pat Cummins led Australian team will visit Pakistan for the first time since 1998 for three Test matches, three One-Day Internationals and one T20 International. The Test playing contingent and staff are due to depart for Pakistan later this month while white ball players, to be announced separately, will join mid-tour for the One-Day Internationals and T20 International. Names of players: Pat Cummins (C),Ashton Agar,Scott Boland,Alex Carey,Cameron Green,Marcus Harris,Josh Hazlewood,Travis Head,Josh Inglis,Usman Khawaja,Marnus Labuschagne,Nathan Lyon,Mitchell Marsh,Michael Neser,Steve Smith,Mitchell Starc,Mitchell Swepson and David Warner.

Sports Bulletin Report Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced that the draw ceremony and the draw for the pools of the next FIH Hockey Women's World Cup Spain and the Netherlands 2022 will be held on 17 February, at the facilities of the Museu Nacional de la Ciència i de la Tècnica de Catalunya (MNACTEC), in Terrassa, Spain. The draw will define the pools of the pinnacle of the FIH women’s tournaments, which will be held from 1 to 17 July 2022 and involve 16 participating national teams. Those include Spain and the Netherlands, as hosts of the competition, whilst Belgium, England, Germany and Ireland are the other European teams. Africa is represented by South Africa, recent winners of the Africa Cup of Nations. From Asia, the four following teams have qualified: China, India, Japan and Korea. Argentina, Canada and Chile are the three American teams having booked their ticket for the prestigious tournament, while Australia and New Zealand, from Oceania, complete the draw. The draw will be conducted by FIH CEO Thierry Weil, accompanied by Spanish international player Berta Bonastre as well as coach – and former international player - Santi Freixa. The Olympic Stadium of the Catalan town and the Wagener Stadion of the Dutch capital area will host the matches of the group stages and the cross-overs, with the semifinals and the final taking place exclusively in Terrassa. In the last edition, in 2018, the Netherlands claimed the title by winning the final against Ireland, while Spain achieved third place.