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England names new squad for ODI series against Pakistan
SPORTS DESK
ISLAMABAD (July 6, 2021):-England Men announce new squad for Royal London Series against Pakistan England Men have named an 18-strong group for the Royal London Series against Pakistan.
The announcement comes after the news that three members of the initial playing group and four members of the management staff had tested positive for COVID-19, and consequently the entire squad initially selected was required to isolate.
Ben Stokes will return to the squad to captain the side and Chris Silverwood, who had been due to take some time away during the white-ball series, is back as Head Coach. In total, there are nine uncapped players in the squad.
Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, Ashley Giles, said: "It's a great opportunity to play on the biggest stage, and for most of the players selected it's not necessarily something they would have been expecting 24 hours ago.
"It's an exciting group of players, with some young talent and some players who have impressed at domestic level over a long period of time.
"We're in unprecedented territory, in terms of replacing an entire squad and management team, and I'm very proud of how everyone has come together in order to get it done - both those within the ECB and from the county game.
"Ben hasn't captained our ODI side before so it's a huge honour for him. We all wish him well and it's a role I'm sure he'll thrive in.
"I'd like to also put on record the thanks of the ECB to the PCB for their support and understanding during this time."
Names of players:
Ben Stokes (Durham, captain)
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire)
Danny Briggs (Warwickshire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Lewis Gregory (Somerset)
Tom Helm (Middlesex)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Matt Parkinson (Lancashire)
David Payne (Gloucestershire)
Phil Salt (Sussex)
John Simpson (Middlesex)
James Vince (Hampshire)
PCB shows satisfaction on ECB assurances
SPORTS REPORT
LAHORE (July 6, 2021):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has a in close contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding concerns about the health and safety of its players since the news of Covid-19 outbreak in the England camp was shared with it on late Monday evening.
According to the media department PCB, Pakistan Cricket Board is satisfied by the assurances and guarantees provided by the ECB on the behalf of its medical panel, and feels comfortable with the existing protocols that have been put in place to ensure all the Pakistan players and player support staff remain safe and secure throughout the duration of the series, which commences on Thursday, 8 July, in Cardiff.
The PCB has also been in touch with its team management and has advised them to exercise extra caution while in the hotel or at the match venue.
Malaysia and Chile to host 2023 Men’s and Women’s Junior Hockey World Cups
SPORTS NEWS
Lausanne, Switzerland: Upon recommendation from the Task Force Events Bidding (comprising of EB Members of all five Continental Federations), the Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed Malaysia as the host country for the 2023 FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup and Chile for the 2023 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup. The matches will be played in Kuala Lumpur and Santiago, respectively.
The FIH Junior Hockey World Cup is the flagship event for under-21 players and involves 32 of the world’s best national teams (16 Men's and 16 Women's teams).
FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “The FIH Hockey Junior World Cup is the perfect platform for young players to unleash their skills onto the international hockey scene. It’s a stepping stone for athletes in their development to senior international hockey. Our thanks go to Malaysia and Chile. We’re privileged to rely on these experienced host countries and we’re looking forward to magnificent FIH Hockey Junior World Cups in 2 years time!”.
"While hosting a tournament is always a big responsibility, in Chile we have always seen it also as a development opportunity to showcase world-class Hockey at the highest level at home in front of our fans, sponsors and media. Bringing Hockey's global finest athletes to Chile will surely become an inspiration for many more young boys and girls to start trying hockey as their sport, making hockey actually bigger in Chile and our region of the Americas”, said Walter Krämer, President of the Chile Hockey Federation.
“The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is thrilled to have won the bid to host the 2023 FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup tournament. For Malaysia and this region in particular, the Junior World Cup will be a catalyst for the growth and development of the sport amongst youngsters. Over the next two years, MHC will invest in the necessary resources and work closely with all relevant parties including the Government of Malaysia, FIH and various stakeholders to ensure the event is an overwhelming success”, said Dato Seri Subahan Kamal, President of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation.
Jayasundara banned for seven years
SPORTS DESK
ISLAMABAD (July 5, 2021):-Sanath Jayasundara, a former performance analyst at Sri Lanka Cricket, has been banned from all cricket for seven years after the ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
The ban is backdated to 11 May 2019, when he was provisionally suspended.
Following a full hearing and presentation of written and oral argument, the Tribunal found Jayasundara guilty of:
Article 2.1.3 – offering a bribe or other Reward to the Sri Lankan Sports Minister to contrive in any way or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of an International Match
Article 2.4.7 – obstructing or delaying an ACU investigation into possible corrupt conduct under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code
Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager – Integrity Unit, said: Jayasundara’s attempt to bribe a Minister is a grave transgression while the efforts to cover up his tracks and the lack of remorse are hugely disappointing.
“We won’t tolerate corrupt conduct in our sport and my team will be relentless in preventing such behaviour. This ban should serve as a deterrent for anyone who may be tempted along the wrong path.”
CLIMBING - Int News 05 Jul, 2021
SPORTS DESK
ISLAMABAD (July 5, 2021):-At the end of a weekend consistently affected by variable weather, rain, and humidity, the IFSC World Cup in Villars, Switzerland, concluded with two exciting Lead finals, where Team USA representatives Sean Bailey and Colin Duffy occupied two thirds of the men’s podium, respectively placing first and third.
As none of the eight male participants secured the top hold, Bailey – Boulder gold medalist at this year’s World Cup in Salt Lake City, USA – concluded with 38, and is now the only male climber able to secure the brightest medal in both the Boulder and Lead disciplines. Participating in his first Lead final round ever, Duffy secured the bronze medal with 31+.
The podium was completed by German Olympian Alexander Megos, who finished with 35+ and won the sixth World Cup medal of his career.
A second German finalist, Sebastian Halenke, finished in fourth place with 26.5+; while Alberto Gines Lopez of Spain took fifth with 26.5. France’s first time finalist Paul Janft followed in sixth position with 26, while Japan’s Masahiro Higuchi and Zento Murashita concluded at the bottom of the ranking, taking seventh and eight places with 12 and 11+
In the women’s final, after they both clipped at the top of the route, Slovenian superstar Janja Garnbret prevailed over Italy’s Laura Rogora thanks to her better placement in the semi-final. It is the fourth World Cup gold medal out of five participations in 2021 for Garnbret, who will now pause from competitions to focus on her preparation for the Olympic Games.
Rogora’s silver, on the other hand, is only her second World Cup medal ever, with the first one being a Lead gold she won in Briançon in August 2020 – where she managed to beat Garnbret herself. The fantastic night of team USA was completed with Natalia Grossman’s bronze medal – the fifth of her season – that she secured with a stunning 42+.
Just outside of the podium, Japan’s Momoko Abe placed fourth with 40+, followed by Slovenia’s Vita Lukan, who placed fifth also with 40+. First-time finalist Aleksandra Totkova of Bulgaria finished in sixth position with 33+; Slovenia’s Lucka Rakovec placed seventh with 17+; and Mia Krampl, the fourth Slovenian climber in the final, finished at the bottom of the ranking, also with 17+.
The 2021 IFSC World Cup Series will now move to Chamonix, France, where the next IFSC Lead World Cup is scheduled from 12 to 13 July.
10-Day camp for Test squad from Wednesday in Karachi
SPORTS REPORT
KARACHI (July 5, 2021):-West Indies-bound Pakistan national team’s Test players will attend a 10-day training and conditioning camp under bio-secure protocols at the National Stadium in Karachi from Wednesday, 7 July. The camp will conclude on 17 July, while the players will enter the bio-secure in a Lahore hotel on 21 July before departing for Barbados on 26 July.
The camp will be supervised by National High Performance Centre coaches, headed by Saqlain Mushtaq (head of player development), and also include Mohammad Yousuf (batting coach), Mushtaq Ahmed (spin bowling coach), Umar Rashid (coach), Atiq-uz-Zaman (fielding coach), Imtiaz Ahmed (physiotherapist), Saboor Ahmed (strength and conditioning coach) and Imran Sultan (masseur).
In addition to the 11 Test players, including Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Yasir Shah and Zahid Mahmood, the selectors have also invited six additional players. They are: Akif Javed, Irfanullah Shah, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Hassan, Mohammad Umar and Saifullah Bangash.
The 25 players and player support personnel, along with five essential staff, on Sunday underwent Covid-19 testing and all have returned negative. As such, 30-member contingent will assemble in Karachi on Tuesday where they will undergo second testing before the camp resumes on Wednesday.
Schedule of the camp:
7 July – Training session (1400-1700)
8 July – Day 1 of 4 of scenario match (0930-1730)
9 July – Day 2 of 4 of scenario match (0930-1300)
10 July – Day 3 of 4 of scenario match (1300-1700)
11 July – Day 4 of 4 of scenario match (0930-1730)
12-13 July – Rest days
14 July - Day 1 of 4 of scenario match (0930-1730)
15 July - Day 2 of 4 of scenario match (0930-1300)
16 July - Day 3 of 4 of scenario match (0930-1300)
17 July - Day 4 of 4 of scenario match (0930-1300)
Squash series starts on July 8
ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL
ISLAMABAD (July 5, 2021):-A series of 4 PSA Satellite Squash Tournaments for Men will be kicked off from July 8, 2021 at Mushaf Squash Complex Islamabad in the premises of Pakistan Sports Complex.
According to a spokesman for Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), all tournaments will be played under the banner of PSA (Professionals Squash Association), as each fixture will have prize money of US$ 1,000. The first tournament will start on July 8 and top national players will take part to show their maximum game skill to win the tournament.
The 1st Satellite event will be held on 08 – 09 July followed by 2nd event from 10 – 11 July, 3rd one from 12 – 13 July and the 4th event on 14 – 15 July, 2021. Squash series is aimed to provide an opportunity to the low ranking Pakistani players to raise their game standard and improve their world ranking by playing at home.
Injury forces Haris Sohail not to join practice session
SPORTS REPORT
DERBY (July 5, 2021):-Middle-order batsman Haris Sohail is still feeling slight pain in his right leg and, as such, he will not take part in next two practice sessions scheduled on 5 and 6 July in Derby. Haris had also missed the intra-squad practice matches due to the same injury last week.
The left-handed batsman has already started his rehabilitation and will undergo an MRI scan on 6 July in Cardiff, following which decision on his availability for the 8 July ODI against England will be made.
The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and England which is also part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League will commence from Cardiff on 8 July.
Pakistan team is scheduled to travel to Cardiff on 6 July.
LPL team owners advised to pick 1 or 2 U-19 players
By BIPIN DANI
All five teams in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will have at least 1 or 2 Under-19 players and the management of these teams will have to ensure that they play "almost" every match.
This was revealed by Charith Senanayake, the new chairman of the technical committee.
Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, the former left-handed opener said, "it is one of my suggestions and the management have agreed in principle to implement".
"With the U-19 World Cup in sight, I have included this in my suggestion-list".
Senanayake's other suggestions are : 1) To increase the number of players a franchise can retain from 2 -6 with a certain criteria and categories. (2) Not to restrict the number of players in the draft and give maximum opportunity to domestic players
"Hopefully, these will be accommodated along with the rules and conditions already in place. Will do what’s best as the league gets underway shortly", Senanayake, who also served the Sri Lankan team as manager in the past, added.
When asked about the appointment and his role as technical committee chairman Senanayake was first thankful to SLC for the opportunity but mentioned that the format of the tournament and the rules were already formulated and in place by the time of his appointment. However, upon discussing a few technical points, Tournament Director Mr. Ravin Wickramaratne agreed to consider the possibility of adopting the following favorably.
The other members of the Technical Committee are : Shane Fernando, Vinothan John and Tyron Hirantha Wijewardena.
West Indies women win third T20I by six wickets
SPORTS REPORT
SAINT JOHN'S:-West Indies Women beat Pakistan Women by six wickets in the third and final T20I to complete a 3-0 series win at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday.
Pakistan’s defense of 102 was off to a solid start thanks to Diana Baig’s athleticism and excellent bowling.
Diana took a scintillating catch in the second over off Anam Amin’s bowling as she dived to her right to send Hayley Matthews back to the pavilion. She followed up that effort with an incredible caught and bowled in the next over.
Deandra Dottin looked in promising touch having struck Diana for a six and a four earlier in the over, but the right-arm pacer had the last laugh as she cleanly caught a strong punch off the frontfoot to end Dottin’s stay at the crease on the penultimate ball.
On the last ball of the third over, Diana pitched the white kookaburra on the good length which induced an edge of Kyshona Knight’s bat to be safely caught by Sidra Nawaz. West Indies were now three down for 17. Diana ended-up with match figures of two for 17 in four overs.
An unbeaten 48-run partnership between Stafanie Taylor (43 not out, 41 balls, 4x4s) and Kycia Knight (24 not out, 27 balls, 2x4s) helped hosts chase down the target with five balls spare.
West Indies captain Taylor recorded a hat-trick in the last over of the Pakistan innings as the tourists were bowled out for 102, after opting to bat first. Taylor accounted for Aliya Riaz, who top-scored for Pakistan with 29 off 34, Diana (5 off 10) and Anam Amin (0 off 1), and finished with four for 17 from 3.4 overs.
Pakistan lost their openers – Javeria Khan (six off eight) and Muneeba Ali (18 off 15) – in 4.4 overs and had their half of the batters back in the hut by 12.5 overs with 66 runs on board.
It was a 22-run partnership between Aliya and Diana that ensured Pakistan crossed the 100-run mark after Anisa Mohammed, the most successful bowler in women’s T20Is, dismissed Sidra Nawaz and Ayesha Naseem in successive overs. Her first wicket was Nida Dar, who got bowled after scoring 17 off 19, in the 11th over.
Pakistan were provided a 21-run start – with Muneeba playing a lead role in the partnership with her 18 off 15 at the back of three boundaries. It was Shamilia Connell who accounted for both openers. The right-arm pacer dismissed Javeria in the third over and picked up the wicket of Muneeba in the fifth.
West Indies’ Mohammed and Connell finished with three for 24 and two for 24.
Scores in brief:
West Indies Women beat Pakistan Women by six wickets
Pakistan Women 102 all out, 19.4 overs (Aliya Riaz 29; Stafaine Taylor 4-17, Anisa Mohammed 3-24, Shamilia Connell 2-24)
West Indies Women 106-4, 19.1 overs (Stafanie Taylor 43 not out, Kycia Knight 24 not out; Diana Baig 2-17)
Player of the match – Stafanie Taylor (West Indies)
Player of the tournament – Shamilia Connell (West Indies)
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