Sports Bulletin ReportRAWALPINDI: The PCB will start tickets refund on March 13, 2024 for the HBL PSL 9 washout games, which were abandoned on 2 March at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, at designated TCS centers in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore.As communicated before, tickets purchased through TCS Express centers will require the buyers to present the original CNIC used for purchasing tickets, along with the physical tickets.Refunds for tickets purchased online will directly be credited to the buyers’ respective bank accounts without the provision to present physical tickets. Tickets purchased through a corporate entity will only be refunded to the corporate entity.Given below is the detail of the designated TCS centers for tickets refund. Ticket buyers can visit them from tomorrow onwards between 9 am to 4 pm.TCS Area Office Khanna, RawalpindiTCS Saddar Express Center, RawalpindiTCS Area Office I-9, IslamabadTCS Area Office, PeshawarTCS Gulberg Office, Lahore

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Olympian javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem called on Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar at National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday. Senior athletics coach Salman Iqbal Butt was also present on this occasion.Talking on this occasion, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar assured Arshad Nadeem that Sports Board Punjab will provide every kind of support to him for the preparation of the Paris Olympic Games. “The whole of Pakistan is proud of Arshad’s feats and after several decades, now there is a hope that Pakistan can win an Olympic gold medal through Arshad Nadeem,” he added.Expressing great confidence in star javelin thrower, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Arshad will live up to the expectations of the nation and clinch Pakistan’s first track and field medal in the Paris Olympics. “All required resources and facilities will be provided for Arshad’s international standard training so that he can win laurel in the Olympic Games,” he opined.Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that a focal person will be appointed on behalf of the Punjab Sports Department to facilitate the training of Arshad at the Punjab Stadium. “The construction work at Arshad Nadeem Stadium will also be started soon in Mian Channu,” he informed.Expressing his determination on this occasion, Olympian javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem said that he is committed to getting the Olympic gold medal for Pakistan. “I’m grateful to Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar for promising the best facilities for my training”. 

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: A delegation of the Chess Association of Punjab (CAB) called on Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar at the National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.Secretary Chess Association of Punjab Gohar Iqbal, Finance Secretary Sardar Irfan, and Rafi Jamal were the members of the delegation.Speaking on this occasion, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the strategy is being finalized for holding the country's biggest-ever chess event. “Punjab Sports Department will make all possible measures for the promotion of chess among the youth. We are planning to hold chess competitions of special persons and other categories shortly”. 

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi have raced to the top position on the points table, after eking out a two-run win against Karachi Kings at National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Tuesday night.Zalmi defended their 147-run total successfully, as the Kings agonizingly fell two runs short, scoring 145-5 in the allotted 20 overs. In doing so, Zalmi also registered the record for the lowest total successfully defended in HBL PSL history at Karachi.Karachi’s pursuit of the 148-run target started solidly as opening batters, James Vince and Tim Seifert, put on a 61-run opening partnership. The powerplay yielded 44 runs, with Seifert being the aggressor. Vince struggled to get off the blocks during his stay at the crease, which was cut short in the ninth over by Naveen-ul-Haq, as he returned for a sluggish 21 off 27 balls on the back of four boundaries.In the next over, Saim outfoxed Shan Masood (0, 2b) with a brilliant ball that turned just enough to hit the off-stump, leaving the batter stunned. At the halfway mark Kings required 84 with Shoaib Malik and Seifert on the crease. In the 11th over Seifert was pinned leg-before wicket against Aamir Jamal, for 41 off 30 balls, comprising eight boundaries.Shoaib and Mohammad Irfan Khan joined forces to stitch a crucial 49-run fourth-wicket partnership off 41 balls, keeping Zalmi on their toes. With 35 required off the last three overs, Naveen bowled Shoaib in the 17th over, who walked back after scoring 22 off 25 balls comprising one four.Luke Wood bowled a fine penultimate over conceding just eight and also dismissing the dangerous Kieron Pollard for a paltry one run. Aamir faced with the challenge of defending 17 runs in the last over, gave away 13 runs off the first five balls as Anwar Ali got off strike.Irfan (39 not out, 26b, 7x4s) needed to hit four off the last ball to earn a consolation win for the Kings. Aamir nailed a yorker as Irfan tried to make room while shuffling to the leg side and missed the ball, taking just one bye off it as Zalmi won the game by a mere two runs. Naveen bagged two wickets while Wood, Aamir and Saim picked up one each.Earlier, the opening duo of Babar Azam and Saim Ayub put on another show of delightful batting after Zalmi won the toss and elected to bat first. They brought up 54 runs at the end of the powerplay. Zahid Mahmood, bowling the seventh over, got rid of Saim (19, 18b, 3x4s) as he turned one prodigiously from outside off to rattle the stumps, bringing an end to the 55-run opening stand.Zalmi notched 75 runs for the loss of one wicket by the halfway mark as Babar played some fluent shots on a turning track. In the following over, Mohammad Haris (13, 11b, 2x4s) was undone by Hasan Ali as Arafat Minhas took an easy catch behind point. Left-hand batter Haseebullah (1, 5b) too failed to make his mark as Arafat bagged his maiden HBL PSL wicket with Irfan pouching the ball at deep midwicket leaving Zalmi 83-3 after 12.1 overs.In the 14th over, Babar took apart Zahid’s leg-spin by hitting him for a six and four to bring up his fifth HBL PSL 9 half-century. Later in the same over, he failed to make his ground at the non-striker’s end while attempting a second run and had to return for 51 off 46 balls, comprising five boundaries and a solitary six.On a tricky wicket, Zalmi could only manage 43 runs off the last five overs courtesy Rovman Powell’s 30 off 18 balls, on the back of three boundaries while Aamir chipped in with an unbeaten eight off seven balls. Arafat, making his HBL PSL debut, bowled the most economical spell of the tournament, returning with a wicket for just 11 runs in four overs, as Karachi bowlers conceded 147-6 in the 20 overs with Sams, Zahid and Hasan bagging one scalp each.

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Lahore Qalandars’ Sikandar Raza has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for a Level 1 breach of HBL PSL’s code of conduct for showing dissent at an umpire’s decision.The incident occurred during the Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators game at National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Sunday night.Sikandar, on three different occasions during the game, raised his arms, shook his head and gestured that the delivery should have been called a wide ball, leading to a violation of article 2.8, which deals with a player showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an HBL PSL game.On-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Rashid Riaz leveled the charge against Sikandar Raza while match referee Ali Naqvi imposed the fine.

Sports ReportDubai (UAE): The World Skateboarding Tour concluded in dramatic fashion on the Dubai waterfront late last night as WST Dubai Street 2024 brought the curtain down on a wild fortnight of international skateboarding action from the UAE.As with the Park discipline one week previously, last night’s shootout will likewise go a long way to determining which 44 Men and Women each go forward to the Olympic Qualifier Series which will ultimately determine who gets the opportunity to represent their country in the Paris Olympic Games this coming summer.127 Men and 75 Women flew into the Emirate in order to advance the prospects of their nations but by Sunday’s finals a mere 8 of each remained. With Japan having 4 Men and 6 Women in those finals it was inevitable that they would take home at least one podium spot- but in the end, they took both top spots and both third positions as well, with Portugal’s Gustavo Ribeiro and Australian prodigy Chloe Covell taking the second place slots respectively.World Skate President Sabatino Aracu said: “Thanks to Arada for organizing this incredible event for the second year in the Emirates, in this amazing scenario of Dubai harbour. We are close to Paris 2024 and it has been amazing to see how much our athletes have grown in the last two years. Good luck to all of them!”Results (Men's Event):KAIRI NETSUKE - JPNGUSTAVO RIBEIRO - PORSORA SHIRAI - JPNResults (Women's Event):LIZ AKAMA - JPN CHLOE COVELL - AUSCOCO YOSHIZAWA- JPN

Sports Bulletin ReportRAWALPINDI: Islamabad United’s Naseem Shah has been fined 10 percent of match fee for a level 1 breach of the HBL PSL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel during his side’s HBL PSL 9 fixture against Multan Sultans at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday.Naseem was charged for violating Article 2.2 which deals with abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings. Naseem had kicked the stumps after the final ball of Multan Sultans’ innings.Since Naseem pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Roshan Mahanama, there was no need of a formal hearing. The charge was imposed by on-field umpires Ruchira Palliyaguruge and Muhammad Asif.Meanwhile, in a separate incident in the same match, Multan Sultans were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate. Sultans were ruled to be one over short of their target by match referee Roshan Mahanama, who took into consideration time allowances before arriving at the decision.As such, and in accordance with Article 2.22 of the HBL PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, each player was fined 10 percent of his match fee.

Quetta Gladiators beat Lahore Qalandars by six wickets at National Stadium KarachiSports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Quetta Gladiators secured their spot for the HBL PSL 9 playoffs after they defeated Lahore Qalandars by six wickets at National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Sunday night. After restricting Lahore to 166-4 in the first innings, vice-captain Saud Shakeel produced a brilliant unbeaten knock of 88 runs that allowed Quetta to edge over Lahore in the last-ball thriller.Lahore Qalandars could only manage to post 166-4 on the board after choosing to bat first. Sahibzada Farhan and Mirza Tahir Baig gave a decent start to their team; after Farhan hit a four on the first delivery of the game, the two took turns breaching the boundary periodically in the third, fourth and fifth overs.Abrar Ahmed, introduced in the sixth over, removed Farhan (25, 22b, 4x4s) on the third ball and then Tahir (12, 13b, 1x6) on the last delivery to bring Lahore down to 39-2 by the end of the powerplay.Abdullah Shafique, batting at three, hit two consecutive fours against Mohammad Wasim Jnr in the seventh over to recover the damage. He then hit a boundary against Abrar in the next over. Shai Hope, who could only manage five off seven, was caught behind in the 10th over off Wasim’s bowling as Lahore got to 70-3 at the halfway mark.Shaheen Shah Afridi promoted himself up the order, taking the responsibility of boosting his side’s total. The fourth-wicket partnership between Abdullah and Shaheen yielded 91 from 57, helping the team establish a sense of control over the innings.After four quiet overs, Shaheen took on Akeal Hosein by smashing three sixes in the 15th over. An over later, he hit two sixes against Abrar to get to his second HBL PSL half-century.In the 18th over, Abdullah (59 not out, 39b, 3x4s, 2x6s) also completed his second consecutive half-century of HBL PSL 9 in style as he hit a six against Hosein on the fourth delivery.In the last over, Sohail Khan caught the ball on his second attempt while fielding at deep third to help Amir dismiss Shaheen, who had to walk back for 55 on 34, on the back of two fours and four sixes. The final over only produced six runs as Lahore finished with a competitive total.Abrar had two wickets, while Amir and Wasim had one each.Jason Roy and Saud Shakeel gave Quetta Gladiators a 39-run opening stand after the former hit Shaheen three consecutive fours on the first three balls of the innings.Jahandad Khan, bowling the sixth over, provided the breakthrough as Roy (18, 14b, 4x4s) was caught behind. Quetta ended the powerplay at 43-1.Saud was joined by his captain, Rilee Rossouw, in the middle for a 27-run second-wicket stand which was broken by Jahandad on the last ball of the ninth over. Rossouw walked back for 13 off 11, with the help of one four.The Quetta captain, however, became the first foreign batter to complete 2000 HBL PSL runs and the fifth overall, only behind Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Rizwan.Khawaja Nafay and Saud produced a dogged third-wicket stand, that yielded 70 from 53, to reestablish Quetta’s control over the game after the two initial wickets. In the 13th over, Saud brought his second HBL PSL 9 half-century, taking 42 deliveries to do so.The partnership was eventually broken by Shaheen, who trapped Nafay (26, 24b, 1x6) leg-before wicket in the 18th over. Quetta required 29 from the final two overs, with Saud and Laurie Evans on the crease. Jahandad conceded 15 in the penultimate over courtesy of a four by Evans and a six by Saud to bring the equation to 14 needed from the final six deliveries.Shaheen removed Evans (7, 4b, 1x4) on the first ball of the final over as Tahir took a spectacular diving catch at deep cover point. Saud then hit two consecutive boundaries, inching closer to the target.With four needed off the final ball, Wasim, the sixth batter in, hit a six to help his team over the rope. Saud (88, 65b, 5x4s, 4x6s) remained unbeaten at the other end as Quetta cruised to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Jahandad and Shaheen picked up two wickets each.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: DS Polo clinched coveted trophy in the 3rd President of Pakistan Polo Cup National Open Championship Finale 2024, outpacing FG Polo by 12-7 in the grand finale on Sunday. The thrilling final, held at the Jinnah Polo Fields in Lahore, was sponsored by Askari Bank, Habib Metro Bank, and Faysal Bank and Sitara Chemicals. Max Charlton was the standout player of the match, delivering an impressive performance by scoring seven goals for DS Polo. He was ably supported by teammates Ahmed Ali Tiwana, Daniyal Sheikh, and Nico Roberts, who each added a goal to the team's tally. FG Polo's effort was led by Mian Abbas Mukhtar with a hat-trick, while Raul Laplacette and Raja Mikael Sami contributed two goals each. The opening chukker saw both teams grappling to score, yet DS Polo broke through, notching a single goal to edge ahead 1-0. In the second chukker, FG Polo upped their game, successfully driving in three goals against DS Polo’s two, bringing the score to an even 3-3. DS Polo reclaimed the lead in the third chukker, outmaneuvering FG Polo with two goals to one, securing a narrow 5-4 advantage. DS Polo then took control in the fourth chukker, showcasing exceptional skill and teamwork to net an impressive five goals, extending their lead to a commanding 10-4. In the final and crucial fifth chukker, DS Polo further solidified their position by adding two more goals to their score, making it 12-4. Despite a spirited effort from FG Polo, who managed to string together three consecutive goals, reducing the gap to 12-7, it was insufficient to turn the tide of the match, culminating in a 12-7 victory for DS Polo. The match was expertly overseen by field umpires Nico Scortichini and Mark John Holmes, ensuring a fair and competitive finale, which was attended by a large audience of polo enthusiasts. Distinguished guests included Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman, along with senior representatives from the sponsoring banks - Askari Bank, Habib Metro Bank, and Faysal Bank - and Sitara Chemicals. The event also featured a captivating display of archery, a parade of antique cars, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, adding to the festive atmosphere. In a closely contested subsidiary final, Master Paints/Diamond Paints edged out BN Polo with a 9-8 victory. During the prize distribution ceremony, accolades were bestowed upon the standout performers of the tournament. Max Charlton received the Most Valuable Player Award for a Foreigner, Zakaria Dawood was recognized as the Emerging Talent, the Spirit of Polo Award was presented to Director Rijas Faisal Shahzad and Raja Temur Nadeem was honored with the Most Improved Player. The most improved player in low goal was Sufi Mohammad Haroon, in 0-2 category was Agha Adam, in 0-2 Bilal Noon, in 0-4 category Raja Mikael Sami, in foreigner player category was Juan Cruz Greguoli while the medium goal award went to Mian Abbas Mukhtar, each demonstrating remarkable improvement and skill.

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Bangladesh player Towhid Hridoy has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Sylhet on Saturday.Towhid was found to have breached Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Towhid’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.The incident occurred in the fourth over of Bangladesh’s innings, when after being dismissed, Towhid turned around on his way back to the pavilion and remonstrated aggressively and inappropriately with the Sri Lankan players.Towhid admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.On-field umpires Sharfuddoula Saikat and Tanvir Ahmed, third umpire Gazi Sohel and fourth umpire Masudur Rahman levelled the charge.Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.