Sports Bulletin

BIPIN DANI Vishmi Gunarathne becomes the first Under-19 Women’s captain for the Sri Lankan team. The 17-year-old right-handed opening batter is leading the team for the India tour. "Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board is sending the U-19 team for the first time overseas and obviously we are delighted with my daughter being named captain but this has "not surprised" us. No surprise since she already showed her talents``, her father Aruna Gunarathne, speaking exclusively over tge telephone from Colombo said on Wednesday evening. Interestingly, the family is yet to congratulate Vishmi on this good news. "We got through the Sri Lanka Cricket Website and still have not talked to Vishmi since she is busy with her training". "Very talented Girl is being selected to the Leadership and has proven this by achieving the champions in the All Island U 19 championship 2022 under her Captaincy. We want to see that my daughter is working hard to perform the best in any time by self motivation", he added further. "Principal, MIC and Head Coach of the Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya has calculated long time master plans to produce such talented cricketers. Hashan Thilakarathna former National Coach and the U19 Head coach Shashikala Siriwardana are helping to develop her international cricket", the father concluded. Sri Lanka's Under-19 Women’s Team arrived on India tour on November 9, 2022, to take part in a T20 quadrangular tournament involving India's U19 "A" and "B" teams and the West Indies Under-19.

Sports Bulletin Report  LAHORE: Pakistan are fully focused on winning the third and final ODI and with it clean-sweeping Ireland when the two teams line up for the last time in the ODI series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday. The match will be live-streamed on PCB YouTube, with the first ball to be bowled at 0930am. After the ODI series, both sides will meet again in the three T20Is at the same venue from 12 to 16 November. The three-match ODI series are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 and the home side will be eager to end the series collecting all six points on offer. Pakistan have played five matches till date in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, three against Sri Lanka this year and winning two of them, and are currently on the second spot in the ICC Women’s Championship with eight points. India are leading the chart with 12 points from six matches. Opening batter Sidra Amin – who has scores of 176 not out and 91 not out from two outings in the series and was named player of the match in both matches – will be looking forward to play another match-winning innings for her side and completing a hat-trick of player of the match awards. During the final ODI, Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof will enter the record books as the country’s most capped player in women’s ODIs. She has till date featured in 120 ODIs and Wednesday’s ODI will be her 121st appearance, taking her past Sana Mir’s 120 ODIs. Lahore-born Bismah made her ODI debut at the age of 15 against India in Jaipur in the Women’s Asia Cup in December 2006. Her 43 runs in the match was the second-highest score for the side after Sajjida Shah’s 44. In 120 ODIs, Bismah has scored 2,960 runs (most by a Pakistan batter in the format) at 29.89, which includes 17 half-centuries. Bismah captained the ODI side for the first time in 2013 and has led the team in 30 ODIs, scoring 958 runs. She requires another 42 runs to become the second Pakistan captain after Sana Mir (1,069) to score 1,000 ODI runs as skipper. Under Bismah’s captaincy, Pakistan have won 15 matches, lost 13 matches, and tied one match, while one game was abandoned due to rain. Reflecting on her journey, Bismah Maroof told PCB Digital: “It is a great honour to represent Pakistan. After becoming a mother and since my comeback, I am grateful to my parents and my husband who have supported me in continuing my cricket journey. “I have played a lot under Sana Mir, she was an inspirational leader, helping in grooming most of us and we all have learnt a lot from her. I have remained vice-captain under her and it helped me improve a lot. “Tomorrow’s game is very important; we would like to win the third ODI to take 100 per cent ICC Championship points. We have the momentum with us and we would like to end the series on a winning note.”

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Local girl, Sidra Amin has had a phenomenal 2022. The 30-year old batter has scored three centuries from 49 ODIs and all have come this year. Her unbeaten 176 off 151 balls, which included 20 fours and one six against Ireland in the first ODI on Friday, not only helped her side win by a margin of 128 runs, but also led her side to clinch important ICC Women’s Championship points. Before Friday’s match, Sidra took part in 10 ODIs this year, and has scored 420 runs, which included two centuries – 104 against Bangladesh – the first century by a Pakistan batter in the ICC Women’s World Cup and 123 against Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s Championship match at the Southend Club, Karachi in June. Her knock of 176 is the highest individual score amongst Pakistan’s batters, surpassing Javeria Khan’s 133 not out against Sri Lanka at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in January 2015. Sidra’s three centuries till date has allowed her to pass Javeria’s record of most centuries (two) for a Pakistan batter in the 50-over format. Ireland – who are on their maiden tour to Pakistan for six limited-overs matches, will be eager to bounce back when both sides meet again for the second One-Day International on Sunday at the Gaddafi Stadium. Recalling her innings, and match-winning record first-wicket partnership with Muneeba Ali, who scored her maiden ODI century, Sidra in an exclusive conversation with Muneeba for PCB Digital said: “I always worked hard and prepare myself before going into the match, but this year I trusted and backed myself to do well. I have changed my approach a bit, now I am thinking about going for runs on every ball and it is paying dividends now.” Sidra, who has 1,180 ODI runs to her name in 49 matches, praised the support she received from her teammates and the confidence given in galvanising her to register an epic ton on Friday. “I am very happy with my innings, when I reached triple figures, I had made up my mind to go for more runs and the support I was getting from the dressing room helped me to score big and achieve the record.” Heading into the series, Sidra had only played three of her 80 international matches at her home ground, the Gaddafi Stadium – and had scores of 21, 4 and 19 and these outings against Bangladesh in 2019. Detailing her struggles in the past and overcoming them to score big in Lahore, Sidra said: “I had always dream of playing here at the Gaddafi Stadium. In one domestic tournament here at the Gaddafi Stadium, I was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, then in 2019 during Bangladesh women’s series here, I could not score runs, I was dropped and eventually my name was omitted from the central contracts list. So this was in my mind, I realised, I got the opportunity, I want to do well, so the people remember my knock and so do I.” Talking about the individuals who inspired and helped her perform at this level, Sidra stated, “I would like to dedicate my blistering innings to my parents – who have been with me from the start to support in good and bad times. The captain and coaching staff, who supported me by giving me a number of matches to perform. Teammates, fans and friends are important to me and I am dedicating this knock to all of them.”

Sports Bulletin Report LANHORE: Sidra Amin produced her career-best 176 not out, while Muneeba Ali stroked her maiden century to record a crushing 128-run win for Pakistan over Ireland to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ICC Women’s Championship ODI series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday. Bismah’s decision to bat first after winning the toss paid dividends from the start as both openers Muneeba and Sidra added a record 221 runs for the first wicket – beating their previous 158-run stand which was made against Sri Lanka earlier this year at the Southend Club, Karachi. The left-handed Muneeba and right-handed Sidra’s 221-run partnership came off 214 balls. Muneeba brought up her maiden century in the 33rd over of the innings off 108 balls. She was eventually dismissed for 114-ball 107, studded with 10 fours and two sixes. Sidra was joined by Aliya Riaz – who was promoted up in the order and the two stitched 97 runs off 67 balls for the second wicket. Aliya returned back to the hut after scoring 29 off 28 balls, which included two fours and one six. The debutant Sadaf Shamas was next to go to join Muneeba and Aliya after getting bowled to Arlene Kelly for a six-ball three. Sidra – who came into this match scoring two centuries and four half-centuries from 48 matches, scored her and Pakistan highest individual score of 176. Her unbeaten innings included 20 fours and one six which came off 151 balls and helped the home side score 335 for three in 50 overs – beating their previous total of 280 which came against the same opponents Ireland. In return, chasing a mammoth 336-run to win, the visitors were bowled out for 207 in the last over. Ireland’s skipper Laura Delany top-scored for her side. The right-handed batter struck six boundaries and scored 69 off 92 balls. Delany and Orla Prendergast (29, 45b, two fours) knitted a 69-run partnership for the fourth wicket – the highest of the innings. For Pakistan, off-spinner Nida Dar was the most successful bowler taking three wickets for 34 runs.  Fatima Sana and Nashra Sundhu (playing her 50th ODI) bagged two wickets apiece. Fast bowling all-rounders Aliya and Kainat Imtiaz scooped a wicket each. Sidra for her fantastic century was named the best player of the match. Pakistan and Ireland will feature in the second ODI at the same venue on Sunday, 6 November. The match will be live streamed on PCB YouTube channel, with toss taking place at 0900. Scores in brief: Pakistan beat Ireland by 128 runs Pakistan 335-3, 50 overs (Sidra Amin 176 not out, Muneeba Ali 107, Aliya Riaz 29; Arlene Kelly 2-62) Ireland 207 all out, 49.3 overs (Laura Delany 69, Orla Prendergast 29; Nida Dar 3-34, Fatima Sana 2-24, Nashra Sundhu 2-40) Player of the match – Sidra Amin (Pakistan)

Sports Bulletin Report Lahore: Right-arm fast Fatima Sana returns to the national side for the three-match ODI series and three-match T20I series against Ireland scheduled to take place in Lahore from 4 November to 16 November. The three ODIs are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 and will be played from 4-9 November at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The 20-year old Fatima was ruled out of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup held earlier this month in Sylhet, Bangladesh after she twisted her ankle playing for Barbados Royals Women in the Caribbean Premier League. Fatima replaces Diana Baig in both squads, as the latter is not part of the series due to a shoulder injury she sustained while playing in the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup. Meanwhile, the 15-player T20I squad unveiled by national women team’s chief selector Asmavia Iqbal also includes Javeria Khan. Javeria last featured for Pakistan in the shortest format was in July 2021 against the West Indies at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. The squads were finalised after deliberations amongst Asmavia Iqbal, interim head coach Saleem Jaffer and captain Bismah Maroof. There are only two changes in the T20I squad that featured in the recently concluded ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup and three changes in the ODI squad that played against Sri Lanka in Karachi in June this year. The players who missed out in the ODI squad are Anam Amin, Gull Feroza and Diana Baig (due to injury). Nashra Sandhu, Kainat Imtiaz and Umm-e-Hani come in as their replacements. In the T20Is, Javeria Khan comes in place of Sidra Nawaz. Pakistan ODI squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Umm-e-Hani Reserve players: Ayesha Naseem and Tuba Hassan Pakistan T20I squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Fatima Sana, Javeria Khan, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Nashra Sandhu, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Tuba Hassan Reserve players: Ghulam Fatima, Sidra Nawaz and Umm-e-Hani Chief Selector Asmavia Iqbal: “I want to congratulate all the players selected for the upcoming home series against Ireland. The team performed well in the recent ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup and so we have not made many changes as we want a well-balanced and settled squad ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup taking place next year. “Fatima Sana’s comeback in the side will strengthen the fast bowling department after the team will be without their experienced pacer Diana Baig. I am sure the players will step up and perform, as important ICC Women’s Championship points will be up for grabs for direct qualification to the next ODI World Cup. “The experienced Javeria Khan has been included in the T20I squad, to boost the side’s batting and her presence at the top of the order will provide stability.” Both ODI and T20I squads will undergo a four-day camp in Lahore after their arrival in the team hotel on 25 October. The squads will have fielding and net sessions on 26 and 28 October at the NHPC and LCCA Ground, while they will feature in two intra-squad (50-over) practice games at the LCCA Ground on 27 and 29 October, respectively.  Player support personnel: Ayesha Ashhar (team manager), Saleem Jaffer (bowling coach and interim head coach), Mauhtashim Rashid (fielding coach), Muhammad Zubair Ahmad (analyst), Rifat Gill (physiotherapist), Yasir Malik (strength and conditioning coach), Syed Nazir Ahmed (media manager), Hafiz Suliman (team doctor) and Kiran Ahazadi (team masseur). Series Itinerary 4 November – First ODI 6 November – Second ODI 9 November – Third ODI 12 November – First T20I 14 November – Second T20I 16 November – Third T20I

BIPIN DANI It is not only Achini Kulasuriya's sportsmanship is hailed but another Sri Lankan woman player also won the hearts of the fans on Thursday. The 36-year-old slow left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera had won the Player of the Match award for her 2 wickets against Pakistan in the Women's Asia Cup in Bangladesh but instead of pocketing the Award alone, she preferred to share it with Achini, whose last over denied Pakistan the berth in the final. "Sharing an award was an instant decision", Inoka Ranaweera, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Bangladesh, said. "I wanted to appreciate her great effort. We have a great team spirit. We always support each other and celebrate success together". "I think all the players contributed to this win.  Final over was the most crucial one of the game. We were only allowed 3 fielders outside the 25 yard. So I think Achini bowled a brilliant over in that pressure situation. My spell has no worth if we haven't won the game. So that's why I thought I should share the award", she explained her decision of sharing the award. The terms for players winning the awards are changed from Man of the Match and Man of the Series to Player of the Match and Player of the Series. This avoids the gender discrimination.   "Yes, I think it's a good move. Now a lot of things have changed. I think everything is getting better", she signed off.

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Rawalpindi:-Four city-based sides, each comprising 12 local and six foreign players, will compete in the inaugural Women’s Cricket League (WCL) at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan Cricket Board revealed the details of event on Thursday. The final will be a standalone fixture between the top-two sides following 12 league matches and will take place a day before the HBL PSL 8 final. The HBL PSL 8 is scheduled from 9 February to 19 March 2023. PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said: “I am delighted to announce the women’s league. This league will attract young women cricketers to this great sport and help our current players further enhance their skills when they will get to share dug-outs with the overseas players. The league will feature present and past trailblazers in women’s cricket in what promises to be an exciting 13-match event. “To amplify the coverage and promotion of this initiative, some of the matches will precede the HBL Pakistan Super League 8 matches. “This event is aligned to our strategy of making Pakistan a stronger cricket playing nation across all formats and genders. We are not only creating attractive brands to strengthen our cricket economy, but through this tournament are also providing career opportunities to our women cricketers. The more our women cricketers will participate in high-pressure events, the more they will learn. “The PCB is a strong proponent of empowering women to shine brighter. By engaging our women, which form 49 per cent of the country’s population, we will enhance the economic and social prosperity of our country.”

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (UAE):-Australia have established a record margin at the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings while also increasing their lead in the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings, after the annual update carried out on Saturday. Australia have stretched their lead over South Africa from 48 to 51 rating points in the ODI rankings, which is the biggest lead ever by any international men’s or women’s side in any form of the game, while their lead over second-placed T20I team England has increased from 14 to 18 rating points. There is no change of positions in the ODI rankings in the latest update, which expunges results from the 2018-19 season, weights the 2019-20 and 2020-2021 seasons at 50 per cent and the 2021-22 matches at 100 per cent. Australia have gained three rating points and sit comfortably at 170, with South Africa (119), England (116), India (104) and New Zealand (101) the other teams holding three-figure rating points. In T20Is, Australia are on 299 rating points, stretching their lead over second-placed England from 14 to 18 rating points. New Zealand and India maintain their third and fourth positions, while South Africa have overtaken the West Indies to fifth position. In other notable movements, Tanzania and Nepal have progressed two slots each to reach 15th and 16th positions, respectively, Namibia have moved up from 21st to 17th and Hong Kong from 24th to 20th. Jersey (up from 28th to 22nd), Italy (up from 38th to 28th) and Mozambique (up from 45th to 33rd) are some of the other big movers in the update. Meanwhile, the number of ranked teams has fallen from 60 to 48 with eight teams not having played at all over the past three years and four others not meeting the requirement of six matches. China, Fiji, Japan, Mali, Myanmar, Samoa, South Korea and Vanuatu have not played during this period while Indonesia, Mexico, Norway and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have played less than six matches. ODIs (No change in rankings): Ranking Team New Rating Old Rating Change 1 Australia 170 167 3 2 South Africa 119 119 0 3 England 117 116 1 4 India 104 103 1 5 New Zealand 101 98 3 6 West Indies 97 91 6 7 Bangladesh 78 78 0 8 Pakistan 59 65 6 9 Ireland 47 47 0 10 Sri Lanka 44 45 1 11 Zimbabwe 0 0 0      

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Lahore:-Pakistan women’s team will fly out from Lahore for Bangladesh via Dubai in the wee hours of 28 September to feature in ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup. The seven-team tournament will be played in Sylhet, Bangladesh from October 1, the final of the tournament will be played on 15 October. The Bismah Maroof-led side had practiced and trained for 10 days at the Lahore Country Club, Muridke. The players went through rigorous nets sessions and scenario-based matches, besides undergoing bowling and batting drills. Captain Bismah Maroof said: “Our previous series didn’t go well, so we will try to rebuild our side and restart our winning streak. Our coaches have worked really hard on players in the camp and we will try to execute the practice in the matches in the tournament. “The tournament format is such that it provides a number of matches to the players which will ultimately help us to get ourselves ready for next year’s World Cup. We will not be complacent, every team in the tournament will come fully prepared, and we will try to produce good results. “Match against India is an important match, but before that we have other games. We will try to gain momentum in the tournament, and once it is with us, we will look forward to the game against India.” Before the Muridke camp, right-arm pacer Fatima Sana was ruled out of the tournament due to ankle injury. When asked how much she will be missed in the tournament, Bismah replied, “Fatima has remained a vital part of the side, her absence is a setback for us, but at the same time it is a great opportunity for other players to step up and play a role in winning matches for the side.” The seven-team tournament format is such that each team will play the other once before the top four sides qualifying for the semi-finals. The final of the tournament will be played on 15 October. Pakistan will play their opening match of the tournament against Malaysia at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on 2 October. Pakistan will take on arch-rivals India on 7 October. Pakistan Squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Nashra Sundhu, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Tuba Hasan Reserve players: Natalia Pervaiz, Umme Hani and Waheeda Akhtar Support staff: Ayesha Ashhar (team manager), Saleem Jaffer (bowling coach and interim head coach), Mauhtashim Rashid (fielding coach), Muhammad Zubair Ahmad (analyst) and Rifat Gill (physiotherapist). Pakistan’s fixtures: 2 October – v Malaysia 3 October – v Bangladesh 6 October – v Thailand 7 October – v India 9 October – v UAE 11 October – v Sri Lanka

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Dubai (UAE):-Bangladesh and Ireland have qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa after winning their respective semi-finals at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022 supported by Dream 11, being played in Abu Dhabi. Bangladesh completed a 11-run win over Thailand and Ireland beat Zimbabwe by four runs in matches played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to book their berths, joining Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, who have already made it to the 10-team tournament. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty said: “We came here to qualify for the T20 World Cup, and we did it!  We have been playing together for so many years, this is our time to show the world how good we are, how much we have improved as a side. “There are a lot of experienced and talented players in our side, and we need to show the kind of potential we have. It was a little disappointing that we could not do well in batting today. But I was confident about my bowling side, and I am happy at the way we handled the pressure.” Ireland captain Laura Delany said: “It (qualification) is massively important for the growth of the game in Ireland. We feel fortunate that Cricket Ireland have introduced full-time contracts and I think we are starting to see the benefit of that. “It is a lot of relief that we won. They run us till the last ball, it was a very competitive game. We are thrilled to be there. We have tried to veer off from focusing on the World Cup. We weren’t successful last time so wanted to do things differently. We are proud to have got over the line today. “We had a very good season, some brilliant wins against some tough sides. Qualifying for the World Cup is the next step in the journey, we will get to play against some better sides, hopefully on a more regular basis.” Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States of America (USA) were the other teams to compete in the eight-team tournament. Bangladesh and Thailand took the two spots reserved in this tournament for the last-two placed teams from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, while the remaining teams came through the Regional Qualifiers. Scotland (Europe), UAE (Asia), USA (America) and Zimbabwe (Africa) won their regional competitions while PNG qualified as the highest ranked side from East Asia Pacific (as of 30 November 2021), which could not hold a competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ireland qualified as the highest ranked side from the regional competitions not to qualify.