Cricket
Shane Warne's body to be brought from Thailand Funeral in his home-country
BIPIN DANI
Shane Warne's funeral will take place in Melbourne, Australia, according to his manager James Ereskine.
The 52-year-old legendary spinner passed (suspected due to the heart-attack) away in Thailand.
Speaking from Sydney, the manager informs : "Warne along with his four friends went to Thailand (from Melbourne) on Wednesday. He was not on any cricketing assignments but on a holiday. One among the four is there is our office staff".
"The dead-body will be brought to Australia for his final rites. It may take a few more days as the High Commissioner's office is also involved in the process".
With Warne's exit, Muthiah Muralitharan has lost his cricket-partner.
"It (the age of 52) is not the age for any cricketer to leave", Muthiah Muralitharan, speaking exclusively to this reporter, said over the telephone.
"It is very shocking news and very hard to digest. We can't believe it. He was a legendary cricketer. We both played in the same era. The world of cricket fraternity will miss him. It is a big loss to the game. All his fans will miss him", Murali added.
Warne was the second highest Test wicket taker (708) after Murali's 800.
The series between Sri Lanka and Australia is played for the Warne-Muralitharan trophy.
"It is a very black day in international cricket when two great players-Rod Marsh and Warne passed away on the same day.
It will not be surprising if the players of both teams or at least the Sri Lanka's wear a black armband on the second day of the ongoing Mohali Test on Saturday.
Pakistan Vs Australia Pindi Test: Pakistan declare innings at 476 for 4, Australia score 5
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
RAWALPINDI:-Pakistan have declared their first innings at 476 for 4 with the lion share of Azhar Ali with 185 runs innings at tea at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Saturday. Australia were 5 without losing any wicket when umpires decided to call off the day-2 game owing to bad light, as 14 overs game wasted of the day.
Day-1
First Session: (105 for 1 in 35 overs, Iman-ul-Haq 57 not out & Azhar Ali 0 not out)
Second Session: (171 for 1 in 56 overs, Imam-ul-Hq 92 not out & Azhar Ali 30 not out)
Third Session (245 for 1 in 90 overs, Imam-ul-Haq 132 not out, Azhar Ali 64 not out, Lyon 1 for 87)
Day-2
First Session: 302 for 1 in 115 overs (Imam-ul-Haq154 not out, Azhar Ali 96 not out, Nathin Lyon 1 for 106)
Second Session: 394 for 2 in 142 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 157, Azhar Ali 151 not out, Babar Azam 33 not out
Third Session: Pakistan 476 for 4 declare (Azhar Ali 185, Rizwan 46 and Babar Azam 36)
Pakistan Batting (476 for 4 in 162 overs):
Abdullah Shafique (c Cummins b Lyon) 44-105
Imam-ul-Haq (lbw b Cummins) 157-358
Azhar Ali (c Green b Labuschagne) 185-361
Babar Azam (run out-Labuschagne) 36-82
Mohammad Rizwan 29 not out- 46
Iftikhar Ahmed 13 not out-21
Extras (b 4, lb 7, No, Balls1)-12
TOTAL: 476/4 in 162 overs
Did not bat: Fawad Alam, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah
Fall of wickets: 1-105 (Abdullah Shafique, 33.6 overs), 2-313 (Imam-ul-Haq, 120.5 overs), 3-414 (Babar Azam, 147.1 overs), 4-442 (Azhar Ali, 155.4 overs)
Australia Bowling:
Nathan Lyon (1 for 161), Pat Cummins (1 for 62), Marnus Labuschagne (1 for 53)
Australia Batting: 5 for 0 in 1 over
Usman Khawaja (5 not out), David Warner (0 not out)
Pakistan Playing XI:
Babar Azam (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Noman Ali, Sajid Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah
Australia Playing XI:
Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Kawaja, David Warner, Marnus Laboschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameroon Green, Alex Cary (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Nathin Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Match officials:
Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire), Ranjan Madugalle (match referee)
Officials Scorers:
Shakil Ahmed, Fazal-e-Azeem (field)
Adnan Farooq(press gallery).
Australia vs Pakistan (Day-1): Imam hits ton, Pakistan score 245 runs in 90 overs
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
RAWALPINDI:-Left-handed open batter, Imam-ul-Haq played a composed innings of 132 runs that helped Green Shirts to end the day-1 game with full command against Australia at 245 for 1 in 90 overs at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Friday.
Skipper Babar Azam decided to bat first after winning the toss, as Pakistani batter show excellent batting skills against an experienced bowling attack. Imam hit 15 fours during in 271 balls innings was the most valuable contribution in the Pakistan’s total.
Australian captain Pat Cummins used his eight bowler to break the partnership of the second wicket in which Imam and Azhar aggregated 140 runs. Pakistan will resume their first inning on Saturday morning at the same venue. Imam 132 and Azhar 64 were not out at the close of play day-1.
Summarized Score Card (day-1):
Pakistan Batting: 145 for 1 in 90 overs
Iman-ul-Haq 132 not out (271 balls, 4X15, 6X2), Azhar Ali 64 not out (165 balls, 4X4, 6X1)), Abdullah Shafiq 44 runs (105 balls, 4X3, 6X1)
Australia Bowling:
Natin Lyon (31-4-87-1)
Pakistan Playing XI:
Babar Azam (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Noman Ali, Sajid Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah
Australia Playing XI:
Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Kawaja, David Warner, Marnus Laboschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameroon Green, Alex Cary (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Nathin Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Match officials:
Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire), Ranjan Madugalle (match referee)
Day-1
First Session: (105 for 1 in 35 overs, Iman-ul-Haq 57 not out & Azhar Ali 0 not out)
Second Session: (171 for 1 in 56 overs, Imam-ul-Hq 92 not out & Azhar Ali 30 not out)
Third Session (245 for 1 in 90 overs, Imam-ul-Haq 132 not out, Azhar Ali 64 not out, Lyon 1 for 87).
Gordon Greenidge advices Kohli to take away his mind from 100th Test landmark
Bipin Dani
Former Windies opener Gordon Greenidge has advised Virat Kohli to take away his mind from his landmark Test (100th) and instead, focus more on every delivery that he would face against Sri Lankan bowlers in the first Mohali Test beginning on Friday.
Sir Gordon Greenidge is one among the nine players (Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad, Alec Stewart, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Joe Root and Ricky Ponting, Ponting has done so in both the innings) who have registered a hundred in their 100th Test match.
Wishing Kohli (through this Reporter over the telephone from Barbados) to score a hundred in his 100th Test match, he said, "I would like to offer my best wishes to Virat on this special moment and most excellent opportunity for this great game. Getting to that special moment should be no more than the other centuries in the past".
"My advice to you is just bat and it will come. Just focus on staying in the middle and that special moment will come. I am confident you can do this. Should your dream challenge your mind just take a moment after every ball and refocus on the next delivery. Best of luck to you".
Sri Lanka's former captain Arjuna Ranatunga has also wished Kohli for this historic Test and at the same time has recommended Sri Lankan bowlers to be more committed rather than spoiling Kohli's party.
"Kohli is a phenomenal player. He has lot to offer. My advice to the bowlers is to concentrate more on line and length, the wickets would come", he said.
Blinds Cricket: Pakistan whitewash South Africa in ODI series
Sports Bulletin Report
KARACHI:-Pakistan Blinds Cricket team defeated South Africa by 6 wickets in the 3rd and the last One-Day International played at Southend Cricket Stadium Karachi.
South African Blind Cricket Team yet again won the toss (three times in a row) and this time decided to bat first. South Africa made 252 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 40 overs. Bhule Bhidla with 63 runs was the top scorer from South Africa while Isac Bidla chipped in with 56 runs. Matiullah took 2 wickets while Ahtesham and Israr Hassan took a wicket apiece.
In reply, Pakistan chased down the target of 253 runs in 29 overs for the loss of 4 wickets. Matiullah was the star with the bat, he made 64 runs off 41 balls. Faisal Mehmood and Ahtesham ul Haq scored 53 and 51 runs respectively. Sphelele Khalala took 1 wicket.
Brig (Retd) Mehmood ul Hassan, General Manager Corporate Services Pakistan Petroleum Ltd, Syed Sultan Shah the President World Blind Cricket Ltd, Hassan Khursheed General Manager PC Hotel Karachi, Imran Ahmed Shaikh Director PBCC and DSR Tariq Mehmood Deputy Supertndient Sindh Rangers were the guests of the occasion and distributed prizes amongst the players.
Awards:
Man of the Match: Matiullah
Man of the series in B1 Category: Riasat Khan
Man of the series in B2 Category: Ahtesham ul Haq
Man of the series in B3 Category: Faisal Mehmood
Benaud-Qadir Trophy: Pindi Test stars under the clouds on Friday
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
RAWALPINDI:-The stage is ready to start Pindi Test match between Pakistan and Australia on Friday morning, as all the tickets have been sold out of Test match that shows how the people of twin city Rawalpindi and Islamabad are keen to see two top teams of cricket world in action.
Right-handed batter Babar Azam will lead the Green Shirts in the historical Test match while Pat Cummins will lead the Kangaroos at the soil of Pakistan after 24 years in the first Test of the three-match Benaud-Qadir ICC World Test Championship series.
Both sides have kept a close eye on the Rawalpindi pitch which has a tradition of being a sporting one, the last Test played at the venue was Pakistan’s 95-run triumph against South Africa almost a year ago. Since the return of Test cricket in Pakistan in December 2019, this will be the fourth Test at the venue. The 2020 Pakistan-Sri Lanka match ended in a draw.
Babar Azam says:
“It is a huge honour to play this series since the trophy has been named after legends of the game Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir. As a team we are very excited that Australia are touring after 24 years, we want to make this a memorable series and the entire squad remains focused and determined to deliver the goods.
“Our fans have been a great strength of ours in the recent past, they have come to cheer us, shown their love and support through social media and have backed us by watching us on their TV screens. My request would be for them to turn up at the venue and give us full backing and support.
Pat Cummins says:
“Richie toured here for the first time some 60 years ago, we are proud to be here in Pakistan and can’t wait for the series to start.
“This is a very special occasion as we have a long history of playing against Pakistan back home and never over here, a whole generation of Australian cricketers haven’t had the chance of being over here and play so as a group we feel very privileged and lucky to be here, we have been incredibly looked after and it is beautiful here, we can’t wait for the series to start.”
Weather Forecast:
A spokesman for Pakistan Metrology Department (PMD) told this scribe that first two day of the Test match would not be disturbed by the rain; however, weather will be cloudy. Next two days (March 6 and 7), there are chances of rain in different spells in the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad that could interrupt the cricket game. On March 6 there will be 60% chances while on March 7 there will be 65% rain probability. March 8 will be sunny day and no rain in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Test Squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain-wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mahmood.
Australia Test Squad:
Pat Cummins (captain), David Warner, Marcus Harris, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Josh Inglis, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson.
Match officials: Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire), Ranjan Madugalle (match referee)
Aliya, Javeria, Fatima, Nashra stars, as Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 7 runs
Sports Bulletin Report
CHRISTCHURCH:-Pakistan won their second ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup warm-up Wednesday as they defeated Bangladesh by seven runs at Lincoln. In the first warm-up, they had defeated hosts New Zealand on 27 February by four wickets.
Young right-arm pacer Fatima Sana and left-arm orthodox Nashra Sandhu shared seven wickets between them as the former starred with four for 47 and the latter returned three for 22 in 8.2 overs, which included three maidens. Fargana Hoque, with 71, top-scored for Bangladesh.
The match had started with a delay due to morning showers and had to be stopped after 3.1 overs because of a passing shower after Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof elected to bat after her Bangladesh counterpart called wrong at the toss.
Aliya Riaz, once again, top-scored for her side with 45 not out after Javeria Khan (44) and Bismah Maroof (32) struck 73-run partnership after Pakistan were reduced to three for 38 in 10 overs. Fatima contributed 29 with the bat in the 33 balls she faced.
Pakistan Cup: Balochistan defeat Northern by 2 wicket in Islamabad
Abdullah Asjad
ISLAMABAD:-Balochistan overcame Northern by two wickets in their opening round match of Pakistan Cup at the Diamond cricket ground Islamabad.
Balochistan beat Northern by 2 wickets
At the House of Northern in Islamabad, Northern’s Umar Amin century went in vain as Balochistan achieved the 276-run target in the last over of the match for the loss of eight wickets.
Chasing 276 for win, Wicketkeeper-batter Bismillah Khan struck five fours and as many sixes in his 58-ball 84 runs innings. Bismillah was equally supported by Haseebullah (40 off 59, four fours, one six), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (39 off 40, five fours, one six) and Amad Butt (31 off 39, one four, one six). For Northern, left-arm spinner Imad Wasim grabbed three wickets for 58.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Northern scored 275 for eight in 50 overs. Opening batter Umar scored a 124-ball 116, hitting 10 fours and four sixes. Mubasir Khan coming to bat at number seven scored a quick-fire 43 off 32. The right-handed batter struck four fours and two sixes. For Balochistan, left-arm pacer Akif Javed picked five wickets for 60 runs in his 10 overs.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Central Punjab by 5 wickets
After being put into bat, Central Punjab managed to score 215 for nine in their allotted 50 overs. Test opener top-scored with a 60-ball 37, hitting one four and two sixes. For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mehran Mumtaz and captain Khalid Usman picked three wickets apiece.
In return, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa achieved the target in the 43rd over for the loss of five wickets. After the early departure of Sahibzada Farhan for nine, Waqar Ahmed was joined by Kamran Ghulam. The pair added 113 runs for the second wicket. Waqar top-scored with a 73-ball 68, which included 10 fours and one six. Kamran scored 56 off 62 balls, striking five fours and two sixes.
Mehran returned unbeaten on 29 off 43 balls, while Adil Amin contributed 28 off 29 balls, hitting two fours and a six. For Central Punjab, leg-spinner Usman Qadir bagged two wickets for 60.
Jeffrey Vandersay doubtful for first Test
Bipin Dani
Sri Lanka's 32-year-old leg break bowler Jeffrey Vandersay is "doubtful" for the first Test match against India.
While bowling at the Indian batters during the 3rd and the final T-20I at Dharamshala on, he twisted his ankle and had to leave the field. His incomplete over was completed by fast bowler Chamika Karunaratne.
At one point of time, the team management was considering sending him back to Sri Lanka, but finally it was decided to allow him to stay in India.
On Wednesday morning, the team had a full training session, where Vandersay attended some training sessions but the team management may not be willing to take the risk of playing him, at least for the first Test, it is learnt.
In another development, on the insistence of few players, Under-19 coach Avishka Gunawardene has also been retained for the Tests, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) source has confirmed.
"He was scheduled to return home with the T-20 players (captain Dasun Shanaka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kamil Mishara, Janith Liyanage and Shiran Fernando) on Tuesday night but now we have asked him to be with the Test team", the SLC source said.
CFU-ANFA Blues beat CFU-ANFA Reds by 62 runs
Abdullah Asjad
ISLAMABAD:-CFU Blues defeated CFU Reds by 62 runs in a match played at Al-Muslim cricket ground F-11 Islamabad on Wednesday. The aim of this practice match was to train the Cricket Federation Uzbekistan (CFU) Team for upcoming fixtures of the tour.
CFU Reds won the coin battle and decided to put challengers CFU Blues into bat first. Blues piled-up 219 runs in 30 overs per innings fixture. Atif Oryakhail was top scorer with 86 runs not out and smashed seven fours and five sixes in his 40 balls innings. Tariq Safi made 55 runs in 54 balls while Saleem Khan 38 runs in 33 balls. Mohammad Imran (3 for 39), Najeeb Ullah (2 for 49) and Ashan Ullah (2 for 39) were top performer with the ball for CFU Reds.
In reply, CFU Reds could score 157 runs, as only Mohammad Hasan could face the bowling opponents and played a nice inning of 72 runs with the help of seven fours and couple of maximum hits. Mirwais Khan claimed four wickets for winners after conceding just 25 runs while Sher Khan chipped in three wickets for 21 runs.
Summarized scorecard:
Toss: CFU Reds won the toss and elected to bowl first
CFU Blues (Batting): 219 for 8 in 30 overs
Atif Oryakhail 86 runs not out (40 balls, 4X7, 6X5), Tariq Safi 55 runs (54 balls, 4X2, 6X3), Saleem Khan 38 runs (33 balls, 4X2, 6X2)
CFU Reds (Bowling):
Mohammad Imran (3 for 39), Najeeb Ullah (2 for 49), Ashan Ullah (2 for 39)
CFU Reds (Batting): 157 all out in 28.4 overs
Mohammad Hasan 72 runs (73 balls, 4X7, 6X2), Jamal Uddin 17 runs (12 balls, 4X2, 6X1), Abdul Qudoos 16 runs (29 balls, 4X3)
CFU Blues (Bowling):
Mirwais Khan (4 for 25), Sher Khan (3 for 21), Tariq Safi (1 for 21)
Results: CFU Blues won the match by 62 runs
Man of the Match: Atif Oryakhail
Umpires: Mujeeb Ahsan & Raja Iftikhar
Official Scorer: Fazal-e-Azeem
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