By Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (April 18, 2020):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deposited PKR10,536,500 (approximately one crore and five lakh Pakistani rupees) in Prime Minister’s Covid-19 Pandemic Relief Fund as part of its contribution in the fight against the pandemic. The PCB had announced on 25 March that the centrally contracted players will make a collective contribution in the emergency relief fund, while the PCB will separately match the contribution of its staff. PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said: “I want to thank all the centrally contracted players and the PCB staff for their generous contributions in the Prime Minister’s Covid-19 Pandemic Relief Fund. Cricket has once again demonstrated that it values, respects and cares for its fans, followers and supporters, and will continue to do so. “In these difficult times, we pray for the health and safety of our paramedics and other frontline fighters, and hope the government will succeed in its endeavours in overcoming this pandemic.” Dr Fehmida Mirza, Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, said: “The PCB has been one of the leading organisations, which has helped and supported the government by spreading public service messages to create awareness about this pandemic. “They have now gone an extra yard by making this generous donation, which will be used to support our frontline fighters as well as the underprivileged. On behalf of the government, I thank the PCB and hope they will continue to use their brand and reach so that we can collectively achieve our objectives.”

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (April 15, 2020):-The ICC Women’s Championship Technical Committee (TC) has decided that teams will share points in all three series in the ICC Women’s Championship that did not take place during the competition window. India and Pakistan share points after their series could not be played; points also split for the South Africa v Australia and Sri Lanka v New Zealand series cancelled due to COVID-19 With respect to the India v Pakistan series, the TC concluded that the series could not be played because of a Force Majeure event after the BCCI demonstrated that it was unable to obtain the necessary government clearances to allow India to participate in the bilateral series against Pakistan, which forms a part of the ICC Women’s Championship. Meanwhile, two other ICC Women’s Championship series have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. South Africa were to host Australia and Sri Lanka were to host New Zealand in the last round of matches. The India-Pakistan series was originally scheduled in the sixth round of the competition, between July and November 2019, but despite the best efforts of both the boards, it was unable to take place. All eight teams in the 2017-2020 edition of the ICC Women’s Championship play each other in a three-match series. The host of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021, New Zealand, and the next four highest-placed teams on the points table qualify directly for one-day international cricket’s pinnacle event. Australia (37 points), England (29), South Africa (25) and now India (23) have qualified by virtue of being the top four. Pakistan (19), New Zealand (17), West Indies (13) and Sri Lanka (5) complete the table. The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier is scheduled to be played from 3-19 July in Sri Lanka, this is subject to review due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 10 teams vying for the three remaining places in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2021 will be the hosts, Sri Lanka, along with Pakistan and West Indies from the ICC Women’s Championship, the two other teams with ODI status, Bangladesh and Ireland, and the winners of the five regional qualifiers - Thailand (Asia), Zimbabwe (Africa), Papua New Guinea (East Asia Pacific), United States of America (Americas) and Netherlands (Europe).

Sports Reporter ISLAMABAD (April 10, 2020):-Chief curator Agha Zahid and Haroon Rashid, Director – Domestic Cricket, will leave the Pakistan Cricket Board when their contracts expire on 30 April and 31 May, respectively. According to media department of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Haroon was re-employed in April 2017. Prior to his reappointment, Haroon had served the PCB in various roles including chief selector, Pakistan senior and junior national teams’ coach and manager, head of youth game development and acting head of the National Cricket Academy. Agha Zahid had joined the PCB in 2001 after retiring from first-class cricket in 1992-93. Haroon Rashid said: “In my latest stint with the PCB, I was particularly pleased with the way we planned, implemented and delivered the new but highly successful and competitive domestic structure within a very short span of time. This was a result of a complete team effort and I thank all my colleagues who got behind the new structure and supported me. “While I will continue to follow Pakistan cricket and pray for its progression, I will now focus on other priorities in life and try to spend some quality time with my family.” Agha Zahid said: “I had an excellent time with the PCB in the past 19 years, in which I oversaw the preparation of pitches that produced stars who continued to keep Pakistan at the top of the cricket pedestal. Obviously, the role had its own challenges and sometimes my team and I were at the wrong end of the stick. But overall, I had a highly satisfying time. “I want to thank all my staff and colleagues and wish Pakistan cricket continues to move in an upward direction.” PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: “On behalf of the PCB, I want to sincerely thank Haroon Rashid and Agha Zahid for their hard work and services over a vast number of years. “With Mudassar Nazar having already announced his departure in May, the PCB will now use this opportunity to restructure the NCA and domestic cricket to create a different and streamlined High Performance structure that serves the game and it’s cricketers in a more seamless way. Amongst many areas, the new system will focus on coach education and the assessment and re-training of our current elite coaches; in addition, the improved streamlined system will enable us to further bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.” The highly-rated Ali Raza Siddiqui, who has been Agha Zahid’s deputy for the last two years, will take over the role in the interim period, while the restructuring process of the two departments will commence from next week.

SB News LAHORE (April 9, 2020): Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti chaired an important meeting regarding Sports Development Projects 2020-21 at National Hockey Stadium on Thursday. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh, Director Admin JavedChohan, Deputy Director Planning Rauf Bajwa, Director PMU AkramSoban and other officials attended the meeting. Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh briefed the meeting about various aspects of the development sports projects. Addressing the meeting, Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti said as many as 70 new Sports Development Projects will be launched under the new Development Programme. “The construction work on 100 sports projects will be completed under the Soft Sports Project besides initiating work on Phase-II projects”. Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti directed the concerned officials to complete the remaining work on under-progress sports projects as early as possible. “The prime objective of new Sports Development Projects is to promote sports culture in the province in an effective manner. We have plenty of sports talent across the province and our young talented players will further flourish their potential through professional training,” he added. Punjab Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti, on this occasion directed the concerned officials to prepare the upgradation plan of Nishtar Park Sports Complex. Briefing the meeting, Director General Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh, on this occasion said that the new sports schemes will help a lot the talented players to polish their sports skills. “In this way our youth belonging to far flung areas of the province will get top level sports facilities near their homes,” he added.  

Sports Reporter ISLAMABAD (April 9, 2020):-After determining that Umar Akmal has not requested for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has referred the matter to the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel, Justice (retired) Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan, former Lahore High Court Judge. The PCB made the determination after examining the contents of Umar Akmal’s reply in which no written request for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal had been made for the purposes of contesting liability or level of sanction or both as per Article 4.6.6 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code. In accordance with the Article 4.8.1 of the Code, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel shall now issue a public decision confirming the offences under the Code specified in the Notice of Charge and imposing applicable sanctions. Until the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel will not announce his decision, the PCB will not comment on the matter. ·         Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code reads as: “Failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code”. ·         Article 4.8.1 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code reads as: “In such circumstances, a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal shall not be required. Instead, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel (sitting alone) shall issue a public decision confirming the offence(s) under this Anti-Corruption Code specified in the Notice of Charge and the imposition of an applicable sanction within the range specified in the Notice of Charge. Before issuing that public decision, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel will provide written notice of that decision to the National Cricket Federation to which the Participant is affiliated, the  PCB Vigilance and Security Department and the ICC.” ·         According to Article 6.2, the range of permissible period of ineligibility for those charged and found guilty under Article 2.4.4 is a minimum of six (6) months and a maximum of a lifetime. ·         Umar Akmal was issued a Notice of Charge by PCB under the PCB Anti Corruption Code (the “Code”) on Tuesday, 17 March, and he had responded within the stipulated deadline. ·         Umar Akmal was provisionally suspended on 20 February 2020.

By Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (April 6, 2020):-A spokesman for Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) said on Monday that the world was going through a very difficult time because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the rapid spread of this virus in Pakistan which also hit the sports activities. “At a time like this, there is need that we should work together to overcome this difficult situation as well as to connect the sports activities. In this regard Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC), Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and concerned International Sports Organization have already instructed to all NSFs to provide online training and competitions facilities to their officials and athletes to fight against COVID-19 through physical training, “he said in a statement. “Now, PTF has start on line training and competition of individual Khyrougi and Poomsae through Korean Expert Coach in coordination with his Pakistani Assistant Coach to make the Coaches and Athletes fit and perfect. This will also very helpful for said coaches and athletes to improve their skills and stamina to fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19), “the spokesman concluded.

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (April 6, 2020):-Federations of International Hockey (FIH) has spent the past six days celebrating hockey’s place in promoting peace and development via a range of projects and initiatives. The stories, from across the five hockey-playing continents, are part of the recognition and celebration of the United Nations International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which takes place today (Monday 6 April). With the health of the global community under threat from the virus Covid-19, never has the message of unity and support been more pertinent. The stories we have highlighted here are just five examples from hundreds of activities that are being run by the hockey family with the end goal of making communities healthier, happier and better places to be. Our five days of stories began in Europe where the Royal Belgium Hockey Association (Hockey Belgium) and the Ghana Hockey Association are working with the Tom Boon Hockey Camp, the business enterprise of one of Belgium’s international hockey stars – goal scoring dynamo Tom Boon. Through the collaboration, hockey coaching and equipment is being delivered to numerous underprivileged communities in Africa. As a result of the work so far, 400 sticks have been delivered to youngsters in Ghana; 25 coaches have received training on delivering coaching sessions; and more than 170 boys and girls have benefited from coaching courses. The aim is to make the coaching courses sustainable, with local coaches doing much of the delivery in the future. South Africa was the focus of the second story as the national association (SAHA) strives to develop hockey to communities across the country. The message going out to schools and clubs is a simple one: hockey can be played anywhere there is a flat surface. Under a national initiative that involves SAHA, clubs and schools, schools will get resource packs and equipment, teachers will be trained in basic hockey coaching and qualified hockey coaches will be running sessions. Hockey will be largely delivered as an adapted game – small-sided games on any type of surface – thus allowing the sport to be played far more widely. Under the strategy, South Africa will have a whole new cohort of hockey enthusiasts. 375 new schools will be targeted for coaching and equipment; 7,500 youngsters will benefit from coaching, 750 teachers will be involved in the delivery of the nationwide programme and 2,440 modified sticks and balls will be distributed. The geographical area covered by PAHF is as diverse as the hockey community served by the continental federation. There are the developed hockey national associations of Argentina, USA and Canada. There are the aspirational communities of Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago and there are the national associations that are just starting out on their journey into hockey growth and development, such as the island nation of Haiti. Since 2015, Haiti has had a national hockey association and, with the support of PAHF and latterly, the Olympic Solidarity Programme, a coaching development initiative has been raised playing and coaching standards in the country. Shiv Jagday, who formerly coached both USA and Canada national teams, is leading the project. He has visited the Caribbean community on three separate occasions to lead coaching courses, the most recent of which was in February of this year. Afghanistan is not just damaged by wars and terrorism, it also ranks as one of the poorest nations in the world. Despite this, it continues to play a range of sports at international level, with its national hockey association aspiring to make Afghanistan a competitive hockey-playing nation. The men currently rank 70th in the world, while the women’s team is still very much in its infancy and is yet to get a world ranking. It is not just at elite level that hockey is making in-roads in Afghanistan: it is also being played in pockets across the country and participants are finding that regular hockey training and competing in local matches is beneficial to both their physical and mental health. The demands of the game are both cathartic in a society where stress levels are extremely high and it also offers the chance for social networking. The Asian Hockey Federation has been working with the national hockey association since 2003 to promote and develop hockey. Equipment donation and coaching courses have opened up opportunities to male and female aspiring hockey players, and at the same time, spread some sport-inspired light and healing into this damaged country. The final continental story comes from Oceania and demonstrates the power of sport to instil life-skills such as self-confidence and leadership. The BDO Aspire Learn Well, Live Well, Lead Well indigenous hockey programme is collaboration between Cairns Hockey and the Australian Federal Government NIAA, with support from Hockey Australia and the Oceania continental federation. While the programme itself is on-going and hugely successful, the icing on the cake for seven of its course members was a trip to the FIH Pro League match between Australia and Argentina and the chance to meet some of the men’s and women’s national teams.   The five days of celebrating sport as a means of promoting peace and development culminated in a message from the FIH Hockey Academy, which is dedicated to hockey development across the globe. In a video message, FIH Academy director Mike Joyce spoke of the importance of working together with stakeholders to design and implement development programmes that are sustainable. He says: “At the International Hockey Federation we believe in the power of sport to change the world. The greatest thing about sport development and sport for development is essentially that it is about helping other people. Everything we do in development we do in partnership with our national associations and continental federations. It is focused on hockey development, including education, participation and infrastructure or hockey for development – things like gender equality, social inclusion, youth and education. “Today, it is the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. We, in the global hockey community, are massively proud to support this United Nation’s initiative.”

By BIPIN DANI Cricket and tresses seem to have a special connection, for hair makes news every time it belongs to someone be it in Team India or Sri Lankan cricket. Due to the current lock-down owing to the Corona Virus, former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has not had his regular appointment with his renowned hairstylist, Samantha K. Pathirana (whose clients include prominent Sri Lanka and foreign cricketers). So wife Isika turned hairstylist! Speaking exclusveily over her mobile from Colombo on Wednesday morning, she said, "yes, I made him "almost" bald. He decided to remove his long hair and beard for two reasons. He is an army man and there he is not allowed to keep long hair". "Secondly, you can say it is a way of appreciating the humble work being done by the army, police, doctors and para-medical staff and also cleaners. They are doing round the clock excellent work in the country during this difficult lock down period". Isika knew that Team India captain Virat Kohli also had his hair cut by his wife Anushka. "Yes, I saw that in the news but I did it for Dinesh a week before that". Australia's star opening batsman David Warner too shaved head bald to show support for Covid-19 fighters. He, however, was not helped by his wife Candice but did it by his own with a charged- machine. Warner has even suggested others to follow suit, including India captain Virat Kohli, and Australia team-mates Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Joe Burns, Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis, TV personality Piers Morgan, and golfer Travis Smyth.

By Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD (April 4, 2020):-The Pakistan Cricket Board today said due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, it will not issue NOCs for any cricket during the holy month of Ramadan. The PCB in a statement said: “We have been approached by some organisers, seeking clarification on the PCB’s NOC policy for Ramadan cricket. At this time it is appropriate we follow our overarching policy which states that organised cricket in Pakistan will remain suspended until normalcy returns to society. In this background, the PCB will not issue any NOCs for Ramadan cricket. “These are unprecedented, tough and challenging times for the world as all economic and sporting activities have come to a standstill with sole focus being on health and safety of the people. The PCB strongly urges organisers and cricketers to religiously follow all precautionary measures, including remaining indoors, maintaining social distancing and avoiding gatherings. “The PCB takes the welfare and wellbeing of its staff and cricketers very seriously. It has around 220 professional cricketers on its payroll apart from its staffers. The PCB will ensure that full player salaries continue to be honoured until at least the end of the 2019-2020 financial year. Furthermore, we have put in place systems to ensure that monthly salaries are paid on time and without delay. “The PCB is monitoring the situation in the country closely as it evolves and will amend its policy when appropriate.”

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (April 2, 2020):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) today revealed record digital and broadcast viewing figures for the ICC Women’sT20 World Cup 2020, which has become one of the most watched women’s sporting events in history as the sport continues to set new benchmarks on and off the field. ICC’s digital channels were in overdrive during the 21 February to 8 March event in Australia, with an astonishing 1.1 billion total video views, making it the most watched ICC women’s event ever and the second most successful ICC event after the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. The figure was more than 20 times the video views delivered in the previous edition played in the West Indies in 2018 and 10 times the previous most successful women’s cricket event, which was the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2017. The record-breaking trend continued via broadcast with the final of the event achieving record viewership in both India and Australia, after their teams played in front of 86,174 fans at Melbourne Cricket Ground on International Women’s Day. As India made the final of the event for the first time, fans watched 1.78 billion viewing minutes of live match action on TV of that game alone. The figure is 59 times more than the final of the previous edition in 2018 between Australia and England, and comprised 35 per cent of the overall viewership for the tournament. The live average audience for the final in India was 9.02 million, higher than all matches of the 2018 tournament played in the West Indies. This figure is 154 per cent higher than the second most viewed match in the competition – the tournament opener between Australia and India on 21 February. The overall viewing minutes across the whole event in India was 5.4 billion, almost three times more than the 2018 edition. The digital streaming figures too were impressive in India, peaking at 3.1 million for concurrent users of Hotstar during the final. In Australia, the average audience for the final was 1.2 million, making it the most watched women’s cricket match and the sixth-most watched cricket match ever on subscription television in Australian broadcast history. ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney: “These quite outstanding broadcast and digital numbers demonstrate the power of women’s cricket to aggregate a huge global audience and engage fans. This undoubtedly consolidates our position as one of the leading women’s sports in the world and we want to build on the momentum from this event and create a long-term sustainable foundation for the game. “It reinforces our belief that there is a significant opportunity around the women’s game and collectively we must promote it further so more fans can watch it, more kids are inspired by it and sponsors and broadcasters want to be a part of it. “We have built on the record-breaking success of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 and continued our focus on deepening engagement with existing fans and bringing new fans to the game with relevant, engaging content that goes beyond match highlights. Cricket fans want competitive cricket with context and the world’s best players did not disappoint in Australia earlier this year.”