Sports Bulletin

Abdullah Asjad RAWALPINDI:-The Markhor Cricket League (MCL) Tape Ball Cricket Festival will start from March 21, 2022 at Ayub Park Cricket Ground Rawalpindi, as the overseas teams will also take part in the prestigious tournament. Chairman Markhor Cricket League (MCL), Sardar Saifullah Abbasi informed the media while unfolding the details of the tournament that four overseas teams including Dubai Whales, UK Rams, Pak-Qatar Dyx and Eshaal Falcons would compete in the Tape Ball Cricket Festival. Former Test cricketer Mohammad Khalil and Marketing Director Ali Nawaz were also present on the occasion. A total of 34 matches will be played in MCL. The opening ceremony will be held at Ayub Cricket Ground Rawalpindi while the final of the event will be played on March 29 at the same venue. “Pakistani cricket fans love to watch Tape Ball Cricket, “said Abbasi. Former Test cricketer Mohammad Khalil said that Season 3 would be an event full of entertainment.   MCL Pool A: Sardar Mountain Lions, Wolves Adin Technologies, Multan Deers, Derby Stars UK Rams, Rawalpindi Jaguars, Al-Freed Pak-Qatar Oryx MCL Pool B: Ismaeel 1122 Eagles Eye, Dynasty Stallions, Eshaal Falcon Slayer, MCC KPK Tigers, Lahore Red Hawks, Leopards Murree Warriors  

BIPIN DANI Mark Portus, the cricket biomechanist, who teaches the art and science of fast bowling (the name of his academy is : Pace Doctor) to bowlers in Australia has welcomed the Non-saliva law. The MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), which governs the laws of the game, will treat the use of saliva as an unfair play. In the pre-covid pandemic days it was widely used by the bowlers and the fielders to retain shine on the ball. Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Australia on Wednesday evening, he said, "I think the new Non Saliva law is good, more hygenic". Now the players will continue to use sweat for the purpose. "Sweat is just as effective as a polished ball. It also avoids the other sugary stuff players use". "It won't, however, avoid the mixture of sweat and sunscreen. True Dennis Lillee style", Portus added. "Sunscreen will provide a little help, another synthetic compound to help with shining the ball. Bowlers will need to be sweaty though", he remarked.    Dukes ball manufacturer Dilip Jajodia, in an exclusive chat with this Reporter has explained how the use of sweat is useful to the bowlers.  "The body naturally secreats oil and more so when the body is heated up during strenuous exercise + sweat, therefore when applied to the surface, this liquid soaks into the surface leather". "When the ball is polished on trousers, the friction created makes the sweat evaporate but the natural  oil soaks into the surface cells and acts as a lubricant to help polish the leather as for example when the surface of shoes are polished", he signed off.

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai (UAE):-The nominees for ICC Players of the Month of February for men’s and women’s international cricket have been announced today. February saw some strong men and women candidates staking their claim with some brilliant performances. The ICC Player of the Month nominations in the men’s category features UAE batter, Vriitya Aravind, India batter Shreyas Iyer and Nepal’s Dipendra Sing Airee. In the women’s category, New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr, India veteran star Mithali Raj and all-rounder Deepti Sharma are nominated. ICC Men’s Player of the Month for February:  Vriitya Aravind – UAE Vriitya Aravind was the young star in UAE's campaign at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier A held in Oman last month. The youngest member of the squad, nineteen-year-old Aravind played a crucial role in UAE’s qualification to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 which will take place later this year. In the five matches he played, he smashed 267 runs at an average of 89.00 and a strike rate of 154.33. He set the tone with a 67-ball 97* in the opening game against Oman and carried his form through the tournament with scores of 40, 84*, 46 in the next three games. Though he didn't finish with a flourish, he did enough to win the Player of the Tournament. Shreyas Iyer - India Shreyas Iyer was in unstoppable form in the month of February and played a vital role in India's white-ball domination. He started the month with a Player of the Match-winning 80 against West Indies in the final ODI and a 16-ball 25 in the last T20I. With India opting to rest players and injury to Suryakumar Yadav, Iyer was promoted to No.3 in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. He scored three unbeaten fifties in three games and finished with 204 runs at a blistering strike rate of 174.35 and was awarded the Player of the Series for his exploits. Dipendra Singh Airee – Nepal Dipendra Singh Airee was a vital cog in Nepal's third-place finish in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier A in Oman. He was splendid both with the bat and the ball, finishing with 159 runs and six wickets in the tournament. Prior to the start of the tournament, he was brilliant in the quadrangular series against Oman, UAE, and Ireland where he accumulated 142 runs in three games and grabbed a four-for in the final game against Ireland. ICC Women’s Player of the Month for February: Amelia Kerr - New Zealand In the ODI series against India ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, she finished as the highest-run getter overall and the joint-highest wicket-taker for her team alongside her sister Jess Kerr. In the five ODIs, she scored 353 runs at an average of 117.66 and strike rate of 97.51, which included three fifties and a hundred.  With the ball, she picked up 7 wickets at an economy of 5.78. She was also the Player of the Match in two of the five ODIs and took home the Player of the Series award as well. Mithali Raj – India Mithali Raj was one of the few shining lights for India in the ODI series against New Zealand. She was the highest run-scorer for India and the second-highest overall with 232 runs, including three fifties, averaging 77.33 with a strike rate of 82.56. In the final ODI, she played the role of the finisher to perfection, remaining unbeaten on 54 as India chased down 252 with four overs to spare. With the win, India ensured that they finished the series with a win in their kitty. Deepti Sharma – India Deepti Sharma was brilliant with both with the bat and ball in the series against New Zealand. She took the most wickets (10) in the ODI series and was handy with the bat as well, aggregating 116 runs in five matches. She grabbed a four-for in the second ODI and followed it up with a 69* in the next match.

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai:-Ravindra Jadeja’s performance at India's recent Test home win against Sri Lanka in Mohali has catapulted him to the no. 1 position in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's Test Player Rankings. His unbeaten 175 lifted him up to 17 places from 54th to 37th with the bat and he added nine wickets to move up to 17th with the ball. His all-round contribution was enough for him to regain the top all-rounder spot from Jason Holder, who had held it since February 2021. Jadeja’s only previous time on top was in August 2017, when he spent a week at number one. The Rawalpindi Test between host Pakistan and Australia was a batting feast, and Imam-ul-Haq celebrated by striking a century in each innings to move to a career best 63rd with 477 points. Hi teammate Azhar Ali struck 185 and moved up ten places to 12 whilst Abdullah Shafique added a second-innings century to gain 27 places to 67. Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne missed out on a century, being dismissed for 90, but that was enough to gain a point up to 936 and 12th position on his own in the list of highest-ever batting ratings. Usman Khawaja also fell in the 90s but continued his renaissance, moving up six places to 24 with the bat, his highest position for three years. In bowlers, Nauman Ali of Pakistan impressed with figures of 6-107 in Australia’s first innings and saw him gain 19 places to 51. In T20I cricket, whilst the top 12 batters are unchanged, at joint thirteenth position is Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai, who’s unbeaten 59 in the second match against Bangladesh at Mirpur ensured a shared series win. For the hosts, Liton Das starred in the first match with 60, which helped him to gain 26 places to 49th over the course of the series. With the ball, Nasum Ahmed has made his first appearance in the top 10 bowlers, thanks to his ‘Player of the Match’ performance of 4-10 in the first match.

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-The 1st National Blind Cricket Championship for Women started at Shalimar Cricket Ground Islamabad Tuesday (March 8, 2022 on the World Women’s Day) sponsored by Australian High Commission in Pakistan. Four teams including hosts Islamabad, Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber PakhtunKawa (KPK) are taking part in this event. Nick Hockley, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cricket Australia (CA), Joanne Frederiksen Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan, Syed Sultan Shah President World Blind Cricket as well as Chairman PBCC and Todd Greenberg, CEO of Australian Cricketers’ Association attended the event. Joanne Frederiksen, Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan said: “I appreciate the efforts of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) in taking this initiative, and on this Women’s Day, I am pleased to support a visually impaired women's cricket training and championship as this will provide the women & girls with a disability the opportunity to participate in Pakistan’s favorite sport. We will continue to fund Blind Women Cricket in Pakistan in the future as well”. The Chairman, PBCC Syed Sultan Shah said that the two blind factory workers invented blind cricket in Melbourne, Australia, in 1922 and it was a highly competitive game which enables people with visual impairment to become people of vision. Forty-four (44) women & girls with visual impairment are participating in this event, shortlisted across Pakistan from Karachi to Gilgit-Baltistan. He thanked the Australian Government for the much-needed support for this cause. He requested Nick Hockley to follow the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) model of supporting Men Blind Cricket there in Australia. “Pakistan’s men blind cricket is the powerhouse in Blind Cricket and it couldn’t be achieved without the financial assistance of PCB, he added. Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia expressed his pleasure in watching these visually impaired girls playing cricket that were the source of inspiration for all. “Australia and Pakistan share a passion for cricket, and on this day Australian men's team is playing Test series while Australian and Pakistan Women are competing in World Cup game. Now Cricket Australia will play an important part to uplift the Blind Cricket in Australia, “he said. Nick Hockley officially inaugurated the event by hitting the audible blind cricket ball. Nick Hockley and Joanne Frederiksen played cricket with the visually impaired girls for quite some time.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-The West Indies pulled off another upset as they beat England by seven runs to secure their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup victory over the defending champions England in the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup at University Oval on Wednesday. Shemaine Campbelle and Chedean Nation put on 123 for the fifth wicket to set England 226 to win, six more runs than Heather Knight’s side had ever chased down to win a World Cup game. The 2017 winners stuttered frequently in reply before a 61-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Ecclestone and Kate Cross seemed to be taking them to victory, however two wickets in four balls in Anisa Mohammed’s 48th over snatched it for the West Indies and left England winless from their first two games. Captain Stafanie Taylor was then sent back for a golden duck and in five balls the West Indies had slipped to 81 for three and two new batters were at the crease. Campbelle broke the boundary drought, striking the first four for 10.2 overs but Knight was then caught by Wyatt who rocked back as she held on to a powerful shot to leave the West Indies 98 for four after 26.1 overs. Campbelle and Nation went about rebuilding, and benefitted from a bucketful of extras, Brunt conceding five wides for the second game in a row. More dropped catches and a missed run out hampered England, Ecclestone’s figures of four maidens, three for 20 overs a lone bright spot from a disappointing display in the field. The 100 partnership between Nation and Campbelle came up off 139 balls Nation contributing 38, Campbelle 53 and extras the rest. Nat Sciver got the breakthrough with a low full toss as Campbelle chopped on for 66 from 88 before Chinelle Henry fell for a two-ball duck as the Windies clawed their way to a hard-fought 225 for six.  After bagging a duck in the opening defeat to Australia, Winfield-Hill's batting woes continued but this time she could consider herself very unlucky as Dottin took an early contender for catch of the tournament, an outstretched right hand in a full superwoman pose dismissing the opener for 12. Sciver, a centurion last time out, went for just two sending a slog sweep to mid-on before Amy Jones’ desire to get the run chase going backfired, Matthews taking a good low catch to reduce England to 72 for four. Beaumont survived an lbw review on 44 but her reprieve did not last long as she was trapped in front by Mohammed for 46 to deepen England’s troubles. Scores in brief West Indies beat England at University Oval, Dunedin by seven wickets West Indies 225/6 in 50.0 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 66, Chedean Nation 49 not out; Sophie Ecclestone 3/20, Nat Sciver 1/49) England 218 all out in 47.4 overs (Tammy Beaumont 46, Sophia Dunkley 38; Shamilia Connell 3/38, Anisa Mohammed 2/24) Player of the Match: Shemaine Campbelle (West Indies)

BIPIN DANI Former Sri Lankan cricketer Naveed Nawaz is Cricket Advisory Committee's (CAC) first choice as national coach, it is learnt. According to the highly placed sources in SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket), the CAC has sent a list of several candidates for various coaching assignments. "We submitted the list about a month ago and Naveed Nawaz is our first choice to be the coach of the national men's team", one of the CAC members, speaking exclusively over telephone from Colombo said. "We interviewed 23 candidates and the total12-hour long interview process also included foreigners". It is assumed that the 48-year-old former left-handed batsman's name was sent after at least two foreigners (Paul Farbrace and Graham Ford) backed out. "It was a decision of majority members and his final name was then suggested unanimously". It is not known why the SLC has not yet appointed any full-time coach. "The CAC didn't discuss the remuneration part. That is for the SLC to negotiate with the individuals", the CAC member added. In the meantime, no decision is yet taken on Lahiru Kumara's return. "The injured pacer is out of cricket for more than a month. There is no point in keeping him with the team", the SLC source added. "He is still in Mohali and the decision about him will be taken soon when boys travel to Bangalore on Wednesday afternoon".

Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD:-Southern Punjab defeated Northern by 67 runs in the 8th match of Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament on Tuesday at Diamond Cricket Ground Islamabad. After winning the toss, Northern decided to bowl first. Sothern Punjab set 285 runs target on score board against Northern. Selman Agha played a wonderful innings and scored 171 runs in just 134 balls and he hit 18 fours and 6 brilliant sixes. Khushdil shah added 24 runs in team total and smashed 2 fours and solitary six. Sharoon Siraj scored 20 runs. Northern bowler Aamir Jamal took 3 wickets for 56 runs. Mubashir Khan got 2 wickets and conceded 51 runs while Musa Khan took 2 for 62 runs. In reply, Northern failed to chase 285 runs. Mubashir Khan scored 65 runs in62 balls. Rohail Nazir scored 40 runs in 42 delivers while Mohammad Hurira scored 28 runs in 20 balls. Sothern’s bowler Aamir Yameen took 2 wickets while Abbas Afridi got one wicket. Summarized Scorecard Southern Punjab Batting:  284 all out in 48.1 overs Sulman Agha (171 runs in 144 balls) 18 fours 1 six, Khushdil Shah (24 runs in 33 balls)2 fours,1 six, Sharoon Siraj(20 runs in 38 balls)2 fours Northern Bowling Aamir Jamal 3 for 56 runs, Mubashir Khan 2 for 51 runs, Musa Khan 2 for 62 runs Northern Batting: 217 all out 43.2 overs Mubashir khan (65 runs in 62 balls) 7 fours 1 six, Rohail Nazir (40 runs in 42 balls) 6 fours, Mohammad Hurira ( 28 runs in 20 balls) 6 fours Southern Punjab Bowling Amir Yamin 2 for 29 runs, Khushdil Shah 2 for 29, Imran Randhawa 2 for 30 runs  

Sports Bulletin Report FAISALABAD:-Pakistan Blind Cricket Team whitewashed South Africa Blind Cricket team after an easy victory in the third and last T-20 International by 163 runs. The Green Caps had already won the three-match ODI series with 3-0. The 3rd and the last T-20 International of the between Pakistan and South Africa Blind Cricket series was played at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad. In the morning, the Pakistan Blind Cricket Team won the toss and decided to bat first. The Veteran Mohammad Akram who has been playing his last T-20 Int’l match opened the innings with Badar Munir for Pakistan and both openers got retired out after scoring fifties. Pakistan scored massive 314 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Badar Munir scored 62 off 22 Balls while Mohammad Akram made 51 off 24 Balls. Mathula Dhlamini took 1 wicket for South Africa. The target of 315 runs was too hard for South Africa and they made only 151 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. Fredrik Andreas was the main run-getter with 39 runs off 24 balls while Bhule Bhidla chipped in with 29 runs off 29 balls.  Sajid Nawaz and Mohammad Akram took 3 and 2 wickets respectively while Badar claimed a wicket apiece. Ali Shahzad Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad, Abdul Sattar DEO Special Education Faisalabad, Salman Tariq Bukhari Director PBCC, Dr Anwar Ali Sial Director PBCC and Navid Nazir former first class cricketer were the guests of the occasion distributed prizes amongst the players. Result: Pakistan won by 163 runs Man of the Match: Badar Munir Man of the series in B1 Category: Zafar Iqbal Man of the series in B2 Category: Moain Aslam  Man of the series in B3 Category: Mohammad Rashid  

Sports Bulletin Report TAURANGA:-Australia earned a straightforward seven-wicket win over Pakistan in Tauranga despite a 99-run stand between Bismah Maroof and Aliya Riaz Bay Oval on Tuesday in Tauranga, New Zealand. Bismah top-scored with 78 not out for her first fifty since returning from maternity leave but it was not enough as a disciplined bowling display and an Alyssa Healy half-century earned Australia their second consecutive win at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022. Pakistan were put into bat for the first time this tournament and were soon two wickets down as Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry dispatched the openers in back-to-back deliveries. Schutt forced Nahida Khan into an edge as Beth Mooney took the catch with Sidra Amin going the very next ball, captain Meg Lanning this time pouching the edge from a Pakistani bat. Captain Bismah and Omaima Sohail were then forced to rebuild, and the skipper led from the front, getting off the mark with a perfectly timed flick. Pakistan had slipped to 38 for three when Nida Dar strode out to the middle and faced Jess Jonassen in her first over with only two fielders outside the ring as Australia looked to force Pakistan into a wild shot. Nida went for five giving Amanda-Jade Wellington her first international wicket since 2018 and Bismah was once again welcoming a new partner to the crease. Pakistan made it to the halfway point without losing another wicket but it was slow going, their 50 partnership did not arrive for another six overs, coming off 107 deliveries. Bismah’s fifty was brought up off 96 balls with five fours and her celebration paid tribute to her baby daughter Fatima who was watching on with her grandmother on the balcony. Four balls later and the partnership reached 86, the highest for Pakistan at a World Cup with Riaz’s own fifty following not long after, her first at a World Cup. She would not add to her 53 as she was given out leg before wicket off the bowling of Nicola Carey, ending the partnership on 99, the joint-highest fifth-wicket partnership for Pakistan in ODIs. Fatima Sana would be the last wicket to fall for Pakistan as King got the promising all-rounder caught behind to leave Pakistan on 177 for six. Bismah and Diana Baig finished with a late flourish to set Australia a chase of 191 to win, Bismah ending on 78 not out, the second-highest individual score for Pakistan at a World Cup. Australia were in no way daunted by the chase as Healy and Haynes set about it with intent, finding gaps regularly. Haynes would fall just as she was getting going, departing for a run-a-ball 34 as Australia’s opening stand produced 60 runs. Healy’s fifty came off 55 balls, no need for her to go fast or aerial, and it felt like she and Lanning were in cruise control. Australia then experienced some turbulence as Lanning’s bails were knocked off by a Sohail delivery, meaning she had to go for 25 from 37, her bat frustratingly tucked under her arm on the way off. The job didn’t get any easier for Pakistan though, as Perry arrived at the crease and Healy’s free-scoring continued. Only a well-held catch in the deep from Nashra Sundhu could stop the wicket-keeper as she was forced to depart for 72 from 79. Australia were still well on track at 153 for three and Perry, 26 from 33, and Beth Mooney, 23 from 26, were unbeaten in the middle as they chased down 191 with 15.2 overs to spare for back-to-back victories to start their World Cup campaign. Scores in brief Australia beat Pakistan at Bay Oval, Tauranga by seven wickets Pakistan 190/6 in 50.0 overs (Bismah Maroof 78 not out, Aliya Riaz 53; Alana King 2/24, Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/25) Australia 193/3 in 34.4 overs (Alyssa Healey 72, Meg Lanning 35; Omaima Sohail 2/39, Nashra Sundhu 1/30) Player of the Match: Alyssa Healy (Australia).