Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed Pakistan’s white-ball captain, while Salman Ali Agha has been named vice-captain as the selectors announced Pakistan’s squads for the ODI and T20I tours of Australia and Zimbabwe from 4 November to 5 December. Salman will lead the T20I side in Zimbabwe as Rizwan is rested under a workload management plan.The 32-year-old Rizwan, who debuted in white-ball cricket in 2015, has played 74 ODIs and 102 T20Is to date, scoring 5,401 runs with four centuries and accounting for 143 dismissals behind the stumps. As he leads the team in the opening ODI against Australia in Melbourne on 4 November, Rizwan will become Pakistan’s 31st captain. For the first T20I in Brisbane on 14 November, he will be the 12th to captain Pakistan in the format.Mohammad Rizwan siad: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Representing Pakistan on the global stage is the greatest privilege and to now be entrusted with leading such a talented and exciting group of players is a tremendous honour. Joining the ranks of some of Pakistan’s legendary limited-overs captains truly is the icing on the cake.I am committed to giving my absolute best in this role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and my immensely talented teammates. Together, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters. Pakistan cricket holds immense potential across all formats and I am confident that, with the support of God Almighty, we will build on our recent success against England to achieve even greater heights in what promises to be a challenging and busy season of white-ball cricket.”PCB Chair Mohsin Naqvi siad: “I want to extend my congratulations to Mohammad Rizwan on his appointment as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. I am confident that Rizwan’s leadership qualities, underpinned by his deep commitment and passion for the game, will help shape this talented team into a consistently successful unit. Rizwan has earned the respect of his peers and colleagues through his dedication and positive attitude, and I have no doubt that these qualities, combined with his game knowledge and performance, will inspire the next generation of Pakistan cricketers. The PCB has always been fully committed to supporting our players and staff, and we will continue to stand by Rizwan as he takes on this important role. We are optimistic that under his leadership, Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team will once again become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.”Pakistan squads for Australia and Zimbabwe tours: ODI SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah AfridiT20I SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman KhanODI SQUAD FOR ZIMBABWE: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab TahirT20I SQUAD FOR ZIMBABWE: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.

Rasheed AhmedBahawalpur (October 27, 2024): Punjab and Sindh have qualified for the final of PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024 after winning their respective semifinals at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur on Sunday. The final will be played on Monday at the same venue.Punjab beat Balochistan by 23 runs: In the morning match, Balochistan set a challenging target after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Despite an early setback with the loss of two quick wickets, Talha Iqbal and Moain Aslam played a pivotal role in stabilizing the innings. Their partnership of 87 runs for the third wicket proved crucial, allowing Balochistan to recover from the early turmoil. Talha Iqbal showcased an impressive performance, scoring a remarkable century with a blistering 103 runs off just 64 balls. Moain Aslam also made a valuable contribution with a quick 39 runs off 26 balls. Balochistan finished their innings with a solid total of 195 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs.In reply, Punjab encountered a difficult chase, managing to score 172 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Haroon Khan emerged as the top performer for Punjab, remaining unbeaten with 65 runs off 50 balls. Zafar provided support with a steady 30 runs off 30 balls. Despite their efforts, Punjab fell short of the target. Talha Iqbal, who excelled with the bat, also magic with the ball, claiming 2 wickets to help secure Balochistan's victory. Talha Iqbal got man of the match award.Sindh beat KPK by 6 wickets: In the last league match between Sindh and KPK, Sindh emerged victorious after a solid performance in both bowling and batting departments.KPK, batting first, posted a modest total of 175 runs for 6 wickets in their 20 overs. The highlight of their innings was Anees Javed, who scored an impressive 63 runs off 38 balls. Umar Draz contributed with a steady 27 runs off 26 balls. On the bowling side for Sindh, Muhammad Numan was particularly effective, taking 3 wickets, while Idrees and Badar contributed with 2 and 1 wicket respectively.In response, Sindh chased down the target comfortably, finishing their innings with 176 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in just 16.5 overs. Badar Munir was the star of the match, smashing a remarkable unbeaten 97 runs off only 49 balls, showcasing his batting prowess. Idrees Saleem supported the innings with a crucial 24 runs off 29 balls, helping to guide Sindh to a convincing 6-wicket victory. Badar got man of the match award.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalRAWALPINDI: Pakistan leveled the score 267 at the tea break against English after losing 8 batters in the 3rd Test match of the series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. Saud Shakeel score hundred to save the home side from a big damage.On Friday, duo of unbeaten left-handed batters, captain Shan Masood (16), and Saud Shakeel (16) resumed Pakistan’s first innings at 73 for 3 in 23 overs.England Batting (First innings) 267 all out in 68.2 oversZak Crawley (c Saim Ayub b Noman Ali) 29 runs (balls 43, 4x3, 6x0)Ben Duckett (lbw b Noman Ali) 52 runs (balls 84, 4x4, 6x1)Ollie Pope (lbw b Sajid Khan) 3 runs (balls 14, 4x0, 6x0)Joe Root (lbw b Sajid Khan) 5 runs (balls 6, 4x0, 6x0)Harry Brook (b Sajid Khan 5 runs (balls 14, 4x0, 6x0)Ben Stokes (c Agha Salman b Sajid Khan) 12 runs (balls 22, 4x1, 6x0)Jamie Smith (c Mohammad Rizwan b Zahid Mahmood) 89 runs (balls 119, 4x5, 6x6)Gus Atkinson (c & b Noman Ali) 39 runs (balls 71, 4x5, 6x0)Rehan Ahmed (b Sajid Khan) 9 runs (balls 14, 4x1, 6x0)Jack Leach (st Mohammad Rizwan b Sajid Khan) 16 runs (balls 21, 4x0, 6x0)Shoaib Bashir (not out) 1 run (balls 5, 4x0, 6x0)Pakistan Bowling: Sajid Khan (6 for 128), Noman Ali (3 for 88), Zahid Mehmood (1 for 44)Pakistan Batting (First Innings):Abdullah Shafique ( lbw b Shoaib Bashir) 14 runs (balls 27, 4x1, 6x0)Saim Ayub (c Root b Leach 19) 36 runs (balls 45, 4x1, 6x0)Shan Masood (c Pope b Shoaib Bashir) 26 runs (4x0, 6x0)Kamran Ghulam (b Atkinson) 3 runs (balls 9, 4x0, 6x0)Saud Shakeel (not out) 106 runs (balls 190, 4x4, 6x0)Mohammad Rizwan( lbw b Rehan Ahmed) 25 runs (balls 46, 4x1, 6x1)Salman Agha (lbw b Rehan Ahmed) 1 run (balls 9, 4x0, 6x0)Aamer Jamal (b Rehan Ahmed) 14 runs (balls 28, 4x1, 6x0)Noman Ali (LBW Shoaib Bashir) 45 runs (balls 84, 4x2, 6x1)Sajid Khan (not out)England Bowling: Jack Leach (1 for 68), Gus Atkinson (1 for 14), Shoaib Bashir (3 for 95), Rehan Ahmed (3 for 25)Match Officials:Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh)TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)Reserve Umpire: Faisal Afridi (Pakistan)Match Referee: Richie Richardson (West Indies)Pakistan (Playing XI): Shan Masood (Captain), Saud Shakeel (Vice Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafiq, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Kamran Ghulam, Sajid Khan, Nouman Ali, Aamir Jamal, Zahid Mehmood England (Playing XI): Ben Stoke (Captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckeet, Olli Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (Wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.   

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Duo of Pakistani tennis lads, Ahmad Nael Qureshi and Bilal Asim have advanced to the doubles final of the ITF J30 tournament after beating their opponent pair in semifinal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.According to Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF),the Pakistani pair secured their spot in the final by defeating Mohammed Alghafli (ARU) and Ghannam Alghannam (KSA) with a score of 6-3,7-5. Both players, from Ace Tennis Academy-Pakistan, have demonstrated exceptional talent, showcasing the expertise and dedication of Pakistan's emerging tennis talent.In addition to his doubles success, Bilal Asim delivered an outstanding performance in the singles quarterfinal, defeating Artem Semenov (RUS), the tournament’s top seed, who ranks among the top 300 junior players in the world. Bilal won the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and qualified for the singles Semifinals.Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President -PTF, congratulated Ahmad Nael Qureshi and Bilal Asim on their remarkable performances and extended his best wishes for the upcoming matches. He expressed confidence that the Pakistani duo would continue to work hard and secure the championship.

Lahore (October 24, 2024): The Sheheryar Malik Memorial Pakistan Open Tennis Championship 2024 saw intense action in the men's singles quarterfinals, where Muzamil Murtaza battled past veteran Aqeel Khan in a gripping three-set match, winning 6-7, 7-5, 6-4. The thrilling encounter kept spectators on edge at the Sports Board Punjab Tennis Academy, Nishtar Park Lahore on Thursday.Murtaza, who had a challenging start after losing the first set in a tiebreak, displayed remarkable resilience to overcome Aqeel Khan's experience and claim the win. The victory marks a significant step for Murtaza as he advances to the semifinals of the prestigious tournament.Joining Murtaza in the semifinals is Mohammad Abid, who comfortably dispatched Abubakar Talha with a straight-sets victory, 6-3, 6-3. Barkat Ullah also secured his place in the next round after Yousaf Khalil retired following a tight first set, ending 6-7. In another three-set thriller, Mohammad Shoaib Khan made a comeback after dropping the first set, defeating Abdullah Adnan 6-7, 6-0, 6-1 to complete the men's singles semifinal lineup.Ladies singles semifinals: Noor Malik triumphed over Sheeza Sajid 6-4, 6-2, while Ushna Sohail cruised past Mehaq Khokhar 6-0, 6-0 to set up an exciting final.Seniors 40+ doubles semifinals: Talha Waheed (Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd) and Sheheryar Salamat secured a 6-2, 6-3 win over Arif Feroze and Tariq Sadiq.Seniors 65+ semifinals: Waqar Nisar and Inam ul Haq beat Saeed Khan and Malik Imtiaz 6-3, 6-1, while Asad Niaz and Kamran Mir edged Brig Ghazanfar and M Babar 6-0, 6-4.Boys U-14 semifinals: Hassan Usmani defeated Ruhab Faisal 1-4, 4-2, 4-1, and Omer Jawas swept Abdur Rehman 4-0, 4-0. (Press Release): 

Report: Rasheed AhmedBahawalpur (October 24, 2024): Khyber Paktunkawa (KPK) and Balochistan defeated their opponents Sindh, andPunjab respectively in the 8th edition of the PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024 here at Dring Stadium on Thursday.Game-5 (KPK beat Sindh by 6 wickets):KP won the toss and opted to field first, sending Sindh in to bat. Sindh struggled to get going and managed to post a below-par total of 153/4 in their 20 overs. Despite steady contributions from Babar Ali, who top-scored with 34 runs, Sanaullah (30), Badar Munir (27), and Muhammad Safdar (24), Sindh's batters couldn’t accelerate as needed to set a challenging target. Hamza added a late 16 runs, but the team failed to capitalize on their starts. KP’s bowling was led by Muhammad Shahzeb, who took 2 wickets, while Anees Javed claimed 1 wicket, keeping Sindh's scoring in check.In reply, KP chased down the target comfortably, reaching 154/4 in just 18 overs to secure a 6-wicket victory. Kamran anchored the chase with an unbeaten 53 off 39 balls, supported by Sanwal's 44 runs. Salman contributed a crucial 26 not out. Babar Ali’s bowling efforts were a bright spot for Sindh, as he took all 4 wickets that fell during the chase, but it wasn’t enough to defend the modest total.Man of the Match: Babar AliGame-6 (Balochistan beat Punjab by 5 wickets): In an exhilarating conclusion to the match, the Balochistan Blind Cricket team showcased remarkable determination as they chased down a challenging target of 201 runs set by Punjab, winning the game on the very last ball of the 20th over.Punjab Blind batted first and posted an impressive total of 200/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was highlighted by Haroon Khan, who played a superb knock of 61 off 41 balls, anchoring the team's performance. Mati Ullah contributed 35 runs, while Nisar Ali added a valuable 32 off 24 balls. Zafar Iqbal chipped in with 20 runs, and Mohsin scored 26 to boost the total. Asif Khan and Ayub Khan each claimed a wicket for the bowling side, but Punjab's steady batting ensured a challenging target for their opponents.In response, Balochistan set out with a positive intent, led by Niamatullah, whose explosive innings of 84 off 53 balls pierced through the Punjab bowling attack. Moain Aslam played a pivotal role in the chase as well, smashing 70 runs off just 39 balls, keeping the required run rate within reach. However, the chase wasn't without its challenges. Balochistan lost wickets at crucial times, creating pressure, but the steady partnership between Niamatullah and Moain proved crucial.Haroon Khan, who had starred with the bat, also made vital contributions with the ball, taking 3 wickets, including the key scalp of Niamatullah, to swing the momentum back in Punjab's favor momentarily. Mohsin Khan chipped in with another wicket, but Balochistan responded well, maintaining their composure and looking to the end of the innings.As the final over approached, the tension mounted with Balochistan needing 11 runs to win in the last over. In a nail-biting finish, they managed to score the required runs on the last ball, sealing a thrilling victory by 5 wickets.Man of the Match: Niamatullah. 

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Thirty-two qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26™, 47 for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, 79 Nations League matches and 17 friendlies were played during the recent international window, making October 2024 a particularly busy month of football and one that has led to a number of changes in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking.The top three teams are also bunching up. Argentina (1st) are still on top, but their lead over France (2nd) and Spain (3rd) has been cut. England (4th), Brazil (5th) and Belgium (6th) have all held on to their positions. Portugal (7th, up 1) and Italy (9th, up 1) are the only climbers within the top ten, which is completed by the Netherlands (8th, down 1) and Colombia (10th, down 1), with Germany (11th, up 2) now knocking on the door.Elsewhere, Algeria (37th, up 4), Peru (38th, up 5) and Greece (42nd, up 6) have all made moves worthy of note, and Cameroon (49th, up 4) have returned to the top 50. Other African teams to have made significant progress in the ranking include Equatorial Guinea (88th, up 6), Zimbabwe (117th, up 7), The Gambia (128th, up 7) and Botswana (140th, up 7), the last of whom, the Zebras, have posted the biggest jump overall in terms of points gained (up 38.30 points).There is further cause for celebration for Africa as two other CAF teams have climbed the most places (ten) in this edition of the ranking, namely Comoros (108th) and Sudan (110th), who came out on top against Tunisia and Ghana, respectively, in their recent home-and-away duels as part of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers. 

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Security 2000, Master Paints/Sheikhoo Steel, Newage Cables and Total Nutrition dominated the third day of the Lahore Smart City Polo in Pink Tournament, organized by Lahore Polo Club. Present at the event were officials from Lahore Smart City, Pink Ribbon Pakistan, families, Lahore Polo Club President Malik Azam Hayat Noon, executive committee members, and others. In the first match of the day, Security 2000 defeated Rijas/Barry's team 7-4½. For Security 2000, Muhammad Ali emerged as top scorer with a contribution of fabulous five goals, while Mir Huzaifa Ahmed, playing in place of Farhad Shaikh, thrashed in two goals. For Rijas/Barry's, Mohib Faisal Shehzad converted two goals, while Mumtaz Abbas and Nafees Barry struck one goal each. The second match saw Master Paints/Sheikhoo Steel triumph over Crew Logix Technologies with a score of 9-5. For Master Paints, Raja Temur Nadeem and Maria Candelaria each hammered a hat-trick of goals while Sufi Haroon banged in a brace and Osman Aziz Anwar scored one goal. From Crew Logix Technologies, Malik Ali Kuli Khan, Haris Haroon Malik, and Mahnum Faisal each scored a goal, while they had a two-goal handicap advantage. In another exciting match of the day, Newage Cables overpowered Olympia 9-4. For Newage Cables, Raja Samiullah smashed in superb six goals, and Alman Jaleel Azam, Adnan Jaleel Azam, and Jade Wheeler contributed with one goal each. The day's last match proved a high-scoring affair, where Total Nutrition outpaced Nurpur Bandobast by a good margin of 13-8½. From the winning team, Saqib Khan Khakwani emerged as top scorer as he fired in five fabulous goals while Eesha Haye and Usman Haye thrashed in three goals each, and Ahmed Zubair Butt banged in a brace. From the losing side, the major contribution came from Taimur Hayat Noon with a contribution of five goals while his teammate Gussey banged in a brace. 

LAHORE (PR): Noor Malik and Ushna Sohail cruised into semifinals of the ongoing Sheheryar Malik Memorial Tennis Championship 2024 after winning their respective matches of the Ladies’ Singles at the Sports Board Tennis Complex, Nishtar Park Lahore. In the ladies' singles quarterfinals, Noor Malik delivered a commanding performance, defeating Rahat ul Ain 6-1, 6-1 to secure her place in the semifinals. Ushna Sohail also cruised through her match with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Soha Ali. Other quarterfinal winners included Mehaq Khokhar, who overcame Khunsa Babar 6-1 before Babar retired, and Sheeza Sajid, who swept Lalarukh 6-2, 6-0.The Seniors 40+ doubles quarterfinals saw Azhar Ali Khan and Hadi dominate Syed Shamas ud Din and Ahsan Wali, winning 6-3, 6-0. In the seniors 55+ semifinals, Kafi Siddiqui and Waheed Ahmad battled to a 3-6, 6-4, 10-7 win over Dr Arif and Zargam Khan, while Nauman Aleem and Waqar Nisar defeated Dr Shehzad and Ch Amir 6-1, 6-1. In the boys U-18 quarterfinals, Hamza Asim secured an easy 6-0, 6-1 win over Mohammad Yahya, while M Salaar fought through a tough three-setter to defeat Yafat Amir Mazari 6-7, 6-1, 6-4. Abubakar Talha, the champion of the last junior tennis event, advanced with a 6-1, 6-4 victory against Asad Zaman. In the boys U-14 quarterfinals, standout performances included Hassan Usmani’s 4-0, 4-1 win over Syed Mahad Shehzad and Ruhab Faisal’s 4-2, 4-2 triumph over Shayan Afridi. Abdur Rehman and Omer Jawad also progressed with comfortable victories. Abdur Rehman defeated M Junaid 4-0, 4-1 and Omer Jawad beat Razik Sultan 4-0, 4-2. Meanwhile, in the boys U-12 pre-quarterfinals, Arsh Imran beat Zayd Zaman 5-3, 4-1, and Majid Ali Bachani fought back to defeat M Faizan 0-4, 4-1, 4-0. Other winners included Shayan Afridi, Mohammad Ali, and Mohammad Junaid. Shayan Afridi beat Omer Zaman 4-0, 4-0, Mohammad Ali beat Fahad Mustafa 4-0, 4-0 and M Junaid beat Aliyan Ali 4-1, 4-2. 

Rasheed AhmedBAHAWALPUR: Punjab and Sindh registered victories on the second day of the 8th PBCC Blind Cricket T-20 Super League 2024 at Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur on Wednesday.Game-3 (Punjab beat KPK by 9 wickets): The 3rd match of the event played between Khyber Pakhtunkawa (KPK) and Punjab. KPK won the toss and chose to bat first. Unfortunately, they struggled against Punjab's bowling attack and were bowled out for 164 runs in just 19.1 overs. Kamran Akhter was the standout performer for KPK, scoring 27 runs off 18 balls, while Mohammad Salman contributed 22 runs off 20 balls. Punjab's bowlers were in fine form, with Mati Ullah, Mohsin Khan, and Kashif Siddique each claiming 2 wickets.In reply, Punjab made quick work of the target, scoring 165 runs in only 14.4 overs, losing just 1 wicket. Haroon Khan delivered a solid performance, remaining unbeaten with 87* runs off 45 balls, well supported by Mati Ullah’s commendable innings of 52 runs off 40 balls.Man of the Match: Mati UllahGames-4 (Sindh beat Balochistan by 35 runs): Balochistan won the toss and opted to bowl first, allowing Sindh to set a challenging target for the opposition. Sindh made the most of their innings, finishing with a competitive total of 198 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Badar Munir showcased his batting capability once again, leading the charge with an impressive 70 runs off 55 balls. Accompanying him well was Sana Ullah Khan, who contributed significantly with a brisk 66 runs off just 37 balls, pushing the scoring rate and providing momentum to the Sindh innings. For Balochistan, Ayoub Khan stepped up and claimed 2 crucial wickets, while Mohammad Asif added to the tally by taking 1 wicket.In their reply, Balochistan put up a commendable effort but ultimately fell short of their target by 35 runs, ending their innings with a total of 163 runs for 4 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Mohammad Rashid emerged as the standout performer for Balochistan, scoring 35 runs off 25 balls, while Mohammad Ayyaz contributed with a 22 runs off 15 balls. On the bowling side, Sindh's Mohammad Idrees Saleem showcased his bowling skills by taking 3 crucial wickets. Additionally, Sajid Nawaz provided valuable support to the bowling attack by claiming 2 wickets, ensuring Sindh's victory. Man of the Match: Idrees Saleem.