Sports Bulletin

Lahore stun Peshawar by 147 runs, Sidra Amin (113), and Sadaf Shams (106) hit unbeaten tonsAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi have claimed victories in the National Women’s T20 Tournament 2023-24 by thrashing their respective opponents at three different cricket venues of twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Thursday.Lahore crush Peshawar by 147 runs (Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi):Lahore’s decision to bat first paid dividends as the side put a mammoth 233 for no loss in the allotted 20 overs. Both the opening batters smashed unbeaten centuries. Sidra Amin took 55 deliveries to hit 113, including 12 boundaries and six maximums.She was supported by Sadaf Shams, who scored 106 from 66, showcasing 15 fours and two sixes. Peshawar bowlers toiled hard with the ball, but remained wicketless.In return, Peshawar could only manage 86-4 in 20 overs. Opening batters Aleena Shah (11, 16b, 2x4s) and Momina Riyasat (1, 5b) both fell cheaply to right-arm pacer Fatima Khan.Tehzeeb Shah, who contributed 20 from 21 with four boundaries, was caught Sidra off leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima’s bowling. Sidra later ran out Shabnam Hayat (15, 37b, 1x4) as well.Raahima Syed scored an unbeaten 28 from 42, including three boundaries, which went in vain as Peshawar lost by 147 runs.Sidra and Sadaf were jointly awarded players of the match.Karachi outplay Multan by 7 wickets (Ayub Park Ground, Rawalpindi):Karachi cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Multan after completing the target of 92 in just 11.5 overs. Javeria Khan top-scored with the bat, hitting 47 from 37, including six fours and a maximum.Syeda Aroob Shah, the fifth batter in, produced an unbeaten knock of 17 from 10, including a six and a four, to take Karachi over the line. Yusra Amir (15, 19b, 2x4s) was the other contributors with the bat.Tasmia Rubab, Asma Shareef and Rehmat Noreen got a wicket each for Multan.Earlier, Multan were bundled over for a paltry 91. Opening batter Aleena Masood top-scored for the side with a 37-ball 26, including four boundaries.Skipper Gull Feroza chipped in 13 from 11, including two fours, before she fell to off-spinner Rameen Shamim. Warda Yousaf (11, 12b, 2x4s) and Tasmia (10, 6b, 2x4s) also furthered their side’s total.Aroob was the pick of the bowlers for Karachi, grabbing three wickets for just 16 runs in four overs. Rameen accounted for two scalps for 15 runs in three overs. Skipper Fatima Sana, Omaima Sohail and Syeda Masooma Zahra also dismissed a batter each.For her all-round brilliance, Aroob was adjudged player of the match.Rawalpindi beat Quetta by 8 wickets (Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad):After opting to bowl first against Quetta, Rawalpindi had a strong start when Fatima Shah struck to get opening batter Dua Majid out for just three runs.Fareeha Mahmood and Tuba Hassan stitched a 58-run second-wicket partnership to bring a semblance of stability to the innings. Skipper Aliya Riaz provided the breakthrough as she rattled Fareeha’s (29, 38b, 6x4s) stumps.Jannat Rasheed (13, 14b, 1x4) also chipped in with the bat. Tuba, who scored an undefeated half-century, was the top-scorer for Quetta. Her knock of 70 from 43, showcasing seven fours and three sixes, took the team to 136-5 in 20 overs.Rawalpindi had a faltering start to the chase. Right-arm pacer Khairun Nisa landed two early blows with both the opening batters, Aima (2, 6b) and Fajar Naveed (10, 11b, 1x4), walking back to the pavilion cheaply.Aliya and Natalia built an undefeated 124-run stand for the third-wicket, which allowed Rawalpindi to recuperate after the early setback. Natalia hit an undefeated 57 from 44, with seven fours and a six, supporting her skipper batting at the other end.Aliya, who was also awarded player of the match, smashed unbeaten 63 from 49 deliveries, including seven boundaries and four maximums, to take her team over the rope.

Defending champions Gulf Giants to take on Sharjah Warriors on Friday in SharjahSports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Defending champions Gulf Giants will face Sharjah Warriors in the opening match of the DP World ILT20 Season 2 on Friday at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, as six teams will fight for the title at the three different venues of United Arab Emirates (UAE).On Thursday, team captains and vice captains who assembled at the Dubai International Stadium for a photo shoot with the trophy, and a press conference that followed, were upbeat about their respective team’s performances. Legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar, Brand Ambassador for the DP World ILT20 season 2, set the tempo for the action to follow by stating: “They are all superstars. I am glad I was not born in this era. Players like Chris Lynn would have smacked me all over. Sunil Narine would have always got me out. Good luck to you all. I am sure you will be all rooting for your teams. This is the trophy to be won.” Akhtar then lauded UAE for creating such a platform through this tournament saying. “We saw UAE Under-19 team beating Pakistan Under-19 and this tournament has played a big role in showcasing young talent here.” Chris Lynn of Gulf Giants, who etched his name in the history of the tournament by winning the inaugural edition of the tournament, said: “We obviously did great work last year. T20 is all about reinventing and adapting to the conditions. Last year we had some great batting wickets, and hopefully we will repeat our performance.” Talking about the Green, White, Red and Blue Belts for outstanding performance in the tournament, Lynn said: “It is a big motivation to the players but it also about playing and winning for the team. It is a recognition of performance and pride. Sunil Narine, skipper of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, who has an exciting squad, said: “Some things went wrong with us last year. We will better that show this season. Our ultimate goal is to win this trophy. Though I do enjoy playing in Abu Dhabi, the aim will be to adapt to all wickets and execute our plans.” Colin Munro, skipper of the Desert Vipers with star Pakistan player like Shaheen Shah Afridi in his side, has an outstanding team. Talking about his team’s chances, Munro said: “We have some superstars in our team. We will try and adapt to the conditions here and produce a good show.” Sam Billings of Dubai Capitals, who addressed the press conference in place of his captain David Warner who will be arriving soon, said: “It will be great to play with David having often played against him. We have a great team and we are confident of producing a good show. With all other teams too being strong, this will be a great completion.” Nicholas Pooran, skipper of Mumbai Indians Emirates, and who has played some scintillating cricket in the DP World ILT20 Season 1, confirmed that his eyes are on the beautiful trophy. “We look forward to the challenge. We are hoping for a great start. It is great to be leading the Mumbai franchise. There are many superstars in this tournament; so it is not going to be easy. To be successful we have to work hard and we are ready for the challenge.” Tom Kohler-Cadmore, skipper of the Sharjah Warriors, who too produced some great knocks in the first season, said: “This year we have a more balanced team than last year. We have some very good allrounders and excellent batting options. We are confident of our boys. Every team wants to have a winning start and that is what we will look forward tomorrow. Hopefully we can start well and go towards the final.” All teams are packed with legendary cricketers who have sparkled especially in the T20 format and those who have displayed outstanding performances in the recent ICC World Cup in India. Over 100 international cricketers will feature in Season 2. Stars like David Warner, Shaheen Afridi, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Alex Hales, Shadab Khan, Rovman Powell, Dasun Shanaka, Sikandar Raza, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, James Vince, Chris Jordan, Trent Boult, Carlos Brathwaite, Ambati Rayudu, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Chris Woakes, Sherfane Rutherford and Sheldon Cottrell will all be seen in action. Some of the UAE players who have produced sterling performances in international matches recently like Aayan Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Aditya Shetty, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Rohan Mustafa, Vritya Aravind, Basil Hameed, and Alishan Sharafu are all playing for the different teams. A total of 25 UAE players will feature in this edition. 

Sports Bulletin ReportDunedin (New Zealand): Hosts New Zealand earned an unbeatable lead 3-0 in the 5-match T20i Series against Pakistan after posting a 45-run win in the third T20I at University Oval, Dunedin on Wednesday.Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, lucky or unlucky, won the toss and again decided to chase the target to bounce back in the series, however, a sparking innings by Finn Allen (137 off 62 balls) shattered the dreams of the skipper and his teammates. Black Caps put a mammoth total of 224-7 in 20 over per innings fixture.Although opening batter Devon Conway (7, 8b, 1x4) departed early, falling to Haris Rauf in the fourth over, Allen and Tim Seifert gave New Zealand a breezy start. A 125-run second-wicket partnership between the two allowed the home side to gain control of the innings. Mohammad Wasim provided the breakthrough for Pakistan by removing Seifert, who walked back after scoring 31 from 23, including three fours and a six.Allen went on to complete his second century in T20Is before he was removed by Zaman Khan in the 18th over. The opening batter produced an impressive 137 from 62, including five fours and a record 16 maximums. He was later adjudged player of the match for the second consecutive time.Glenn Phillips (19, 15b, 1x4, 1x6) was the other contributor with the bat as New Zealand crossed the 200-run mark for the second time in the series. The Pakistan attack had a rough day at the office, with each bowler conceding in excess of eight runs an over. Haris bagged two wickets while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman, Wasim and Nawaz accounted for one each.Opening batter Saim Ayub (10, 13b, 2x4s) was dismissed inside the powerplay of the Pakistan chase, courtesy of Tim Southee. A 39-run partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan brought a semblance of stability to the chase, however, it was cut short by Mitchell Santner who removed Rizwan (24, 20b, 2x6s).Pakistan’s top run-getter of the innings, Babar, completed his third consecutive half-century (58, 37b, 8x4s, 1x6) before he fell to Ish Sodhi. Fakhar Zaman (19, 10b, 2x4s, 1x6) got a start as well before Lockie Ferguson dismissed him.Nawaz (28, 15b, 2x4s, 2x6s) stitched a 40-run seventh wicket stand with his captain Shaheen (16 not out, 11b, 1x4, 1x6) though the result seemed like a foregone conclusion by then.Southee, who picked up two wickets at the expense of 29 runs in his allotted four overs, was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand as the home side successfully restricted Pakistan to 179-7 in 20 overs to win the game by 45 runs.

Sports Bulletin ReportHamilton (New Zeeland): Hosts New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 21 runs in the second T20 international fixture of the five-match Series in Hamilton New Zealand on Sunday, as a couple of half-centuries by Babar and Fakhar were not enough to sail the team to victory. Black Caps have earned a 2-0 lead in the vital T20i series.Pakistani captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and invited Kiwis to bat first. New Zealand posted 194 for the loss of eight wickets in the first innings. In return, Pakistan were bowled out for 173 courtesy of a solid performance by the home side’s bowling attack.A 59-run opening stand between Finn Allen and Devon Conway allowed New Zealand a breezy start. Aamir Jamal provided the first breakthrough for Pakistan by removing Conway (20, 15b, 3x4s) in the last over of the powerplay.New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson then stitched a 52-run partnership with Allen before he tight hamstring forced him to retire hurt after contributing a 15-ball 26, including three fours and a six. Allen’s attack saw him produce 74 from 41 balls, showcasing seven boundaries and five maximums before he fell to a googly by Usama Mir in the 13th over, handing the latter his maiden T20I wicket. Right-arm pacer Haris Rauf, who bagged three scalps in one over, was the most successful bowler for Pakistan. He was supported by fellow right-arm pacer Abbas Afridi, who accounted for two wickets. Aamir and Usama had a wicket each.Chasing 195, the visitors struggled at the start losing opening batters Saim Ayub (1, 3b) and Mohammad Rizwan (7, 5b, 1x6) inside the first two overs. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman batted well to add 87 runs for the third-wicket partnership, bringing a semblance of stability to the innings.Adam Milne struck in the 10th over to turn the tide for New Zealand as he disturbed Fakhar’s stumps, who walked back after scoring a fiery 25-ball 50, studded with three fours and five sixes. Pakistan then lost Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan and Aamir cheaply to bring the total to 125-6 in 14.3 overs.Babar completed his 32nd T20I half-century (66, 43b, 7x4s, 2x6s) before he was caught by Tim Southee off Ben Sears’ bowling. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added a quick-fire 22 from 13, including one four and two maximums, attempting to keep Pakistan in the game, until he fell to Milne.A four-wicket haul by Milne, complemented by two wickets each by Sears, Southee and Ish Sodhi helped dismiss Pakistan for 173, to award New Zealand their second consecutive victory. Allen was adjudged player of the match for his impressive performance.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Left-handed batter, Azan Awais is all set to feature in his maiden Under-19 World Cup for Pakistan Under-19 in South Africa and he’ll be the linchpin of the team’s batting unit during the tournament.Azan recently finished as the second-leading run-scorer in ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2023 with 222 runs in four games. The highlight of his career, according to him, has been the hundred against India in that tournament, where he anchored Pakistan’s chase with maturity and courage.Azan played U13 Inter-Regional T20 Tournament 2017 for Sialkot U13, and returned in the same tournament as the leading run-scorer in the 2018 edition. His step up to the U16 level also yielded considerable success as he returned as the second leading run-scorer in the National U16 One Day Tournament 2019-20. In the subsequent edition of this tournament, he ended up as the third-leading run-scorer.Azan has played nine one-day games for Pakistan U19 and will be banking on his experience of batting in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia and UAE in the upcoming U19 World Cup. He was part of the Pakistan Shaheens side that toured Australia last year. In the One-Day series against Bangladesh U19, he was the leading run-scorer accumulating 269 runs in five outings.

Sports DeskISLAMABAD: The 15th edition of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is around the corner, with emerging talents from 16 teams gearing up to compete for the coveted title in South Africa. The tournament began in 1988, and has seen seven different winners in the 14 editions so far. India lead the way with five titles to their name, followed by Australia (3), Pakistan (2), Bangladesh, South Africa, West Indies and England (1 each).1988 (Winners: Australia): The inaugural edition of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, then known as the Youth World Cup, was hosted to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary in the land Down Under. Hosts Australia defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final to win the inaugural edition of the tournament.Notable international stars from the Class of 1988: Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Chris Cairns, Mushtaq Ahmed, Sanath Jayasuriya, Brian Lara.1998 (Winners: England): It took another 10 years before another edition of the U19 World Cup was played and it was South Africa who were hosting an ICC tournament for the very first time. The number of teams doubled from the first edition, with 16 teams participating in the tournament.England triumphed over New Zealand in the finale by seven wickets at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, their maiden and only U19 World Cup win to date.Notable international stars from the Class of 1998: Graeme Swann, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Collins Obuya, Kyle Mills, Imran Tahir, Shoaib Malik, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan.2000 (Winners: India): Sri Lanka hosted the third edition of the tournament, where neighbours India got their hands on the trophy for the first time – a feat they went on to achieve four more times – after defeating the hosts by six wickets in the Final.Yuvraj Singh was named the Player of the Tournament, a feat he famously repeated 11 years later at the highest level as India lifted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. South Africa’s Graeme Smith finished as the leading run-getter.Notable international stars from the Class of 2000: Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Ian Bell, Yuvraj Singh, Niall O'Brien, Brendon McCullum, Graeme Smith, Jonathan Trott, Tatenda Taibu.2002 (Winners: Australia): Australia were crowned two-time Champions in a tournament hosted by their Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand for the very first time. Demonstrating their dominance, Australia maintained an undefeated record throughout the competition and sealed their triumph with a seven-wicket win over South Africa in the final.Notable international stars from the Class of 2002: Cameron White, George Bailey, Mashrafe Mortaza, Suresh Raina, Ross Taylor, Umar Gul, Kyle Coetzer, Hashim Amla, Upul Tharanga, Dwayne Bravo, Daren Sammy.2004 (Winners: Pakistan): The fifth edition of the U19 World Cup, hosted by Bangladesh, marked the debut of Uganda in the tournament. A new winner was guaranteed after two first-time finalists emerged. Pakistan got their hands on the trophy for the first time, clinching the title after beating West Indies in the final in Dhaka.Notable international stars from the Class of 2004: Alastair Cook, Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan, Wahab Riaz, Vernon Philander, Angelo Mathews, Craig Ervine.2006 (Winners: Pakistan): In a historic achievement, Pakistan became the first team to successfully defend their U19 Cricket World Cup title by defeating arch-rivals India in the final held in Colombo.Pakistan were given no chance after they set India a target of just 110 in the finale. However, they delivered a remarkable bowling performance, dismantling the Indian batting lineup with the first six wickets falling for a mere nine runs. India were ultimately bowled out for 71, securing Pakistan's back-to-back titles and cementing their place in history. Cheteshwar Pujara was the leading run-scorer and the Player of the Tournament.Notable international stars from the Class of 2006: Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Moeen Ali, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Tim Southee, Sarfraz Ahmed, Dean Elgar, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard.2008 (Winners: India): India’s misery in 2006 turned to glory in 2008 when they got their hands on the trophy for the second time under the leadership of the flamboyant Virat Kohli.India remained undefeated in the tournament, beating South Africa by 12 runs in a rain-truncated game decided by DLS. The 2008 U19 World Cup is widely remembered for catapulting three of the modern-day ‘Fab Four’ into the limelight. Kane Williamson was the opposite number to Virat Kohli in the semi-final while Steve Smith, then known more for his all-round ability, made an impact with the bat and ball throughout the tournament.Notable international stars from the Class of 2008: Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith, Chris Woakes, Virat Kohli, Paul Stirling, Kane Williamson, Shan Masood, Kusal Perera, Darren Bravo.2010 (Winners: Australia): In a repeat of what happened in 2002, Australia won the U19 World Cup hosted by neighbours New Zealand. It was a low-scoring affair in the final, with Josh Hazlewood’s four-wicket haul helping Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, defend a target of 208 against Pakistan.Notable international stars from the Class of 2010: Hashmatullah Shahidi, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, KL Rahul, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa, Tom Latham, Babar Azam, Jason Holder2012 (Winners: India): The U19 Cricket World Cup returned to Australia for the first time since its inaugural edition. In the final held in Queensland, India secured a six-wicket victory over the host country, Australia, marking their third U19 World Cup triumph and matching their feat from the inaugural edition.Notable international stars from the Class of 2012: Travis Head, Imam-ul-Haq, Ish Sodhi, Akeal Hosein, Ryan Burl, Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Gerhard Erasmus.2014 (Winners: South Africa): South Africa enjoyed an unbeaten run en route to their maiden U19 Cricket World Cup title. They defeated Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai to get their hands on the trophy. Aiden Markram played a pivotal role in the final, leading by example with a score of 66* and earning the additional honour of being named the Player of the Tournament.Notable international stars from the Class of 2014: Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Nicholas Pooran, Kyle Jamieson, Kusal Mendis, Shimron Hetmyer.2016 (Winners: West Indies): The 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup returned to Bangladesh for the first time since the 2004 edition. Defending champions South Africa faced an unexpected exit in the group stages, succumbing to surprise defeats against Bangladesh and Namibia. The final showdown featured West Indies and India, with the West Indies securing their first U19 World Cup title with a five-wicket victory in Dhaka after a gritty display by their batters.Notable international stars from the Class of 2016: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rashid Khan, Shadab Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sam Curran, Alzarri Joseph, Rishabh Pant, Josh Little, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra.2018 (Winners: India): New Zealand became the first country to host the U19 World Cup thrice, having previously held the tournament in 2002 and 2010. For the second year in a row, the defending champions, this time West Indies, crashed out of the group stages. In the final, India beat Australia by eight wickets to become four-time champions, the most by any side. Notable international stars from the Class of 2018: Gerald Coetzee, Alick Athanaze, Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Towhid Hridoy, Harry Brook, Naveen-ul-Haq, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Harry Tector, Shaheen Afridi.2020 (Winners: Bangladesh): The 2020 U19 World Cup witnessed Bangladesh securing their first-ever victory in an ICC event at any level. Finalists India showcased their supremacy throughout the tournament under the leadership of Priyam Garg. Breaking records became a routine for his team as they overwhelmed Japan, securing victory with a remarkable 271 balls to spare — the second-highest record in Youth ODIs to date.Additionally, India achieved the distinction of being the first and only team, to date, to surpass 200 victories at the U19 level during the course of the tournament. However, on the day of the final, Bangladesh triumphed over powerhouse India in a tense, low-scoring clash, with a three-wicket win by the DLS method. Notable international stars from the Class of 2020: Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tanveer Sangha, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Wasim, Matheesha Pathirana, Jayden Seales.2022 (Winners: India): West Indies hosted the U19 Cricket World Cup for the first time in history. One of the biggest highlights of the tournament was the performance of Afghanistan, who made it past the group stage and went into the semi-final for the very first time, beating Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka along the way.Having faltered in the previous edition on the last step, India redeemed themselves by securing the title against England in the final, marking their fifth U19 World Cup triumph.The event unfolded amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to New Zealand's withdrawal due to stringent quarantine restrictions. Scotland stepped in as a replacement in the tournament.Notable international stars from the Class of 2022: Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rehan Ahmed, Dunith Wellalage, Dewald Brevis. 

By BIPIN DANIRiyaz Aluher, the mentor of Sineth Jayawardena, who has been appointed the captain of Sri Lanka Squad for ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 believes that the 19-year-old right-arm off-spinner will bring glory to our Royal College. Riyaz Aluher is the assistant principal and in-charge of 35 sports at the college, where Sineth is studying. Speaking exclusively, he said, "Sineth is in his Advanced Level class. He missed his Advanced Level examination this year due to his national commitments but I am sure he will bring glory to the college". "He is presently the captain of our Royal College. Our college annually plays a three-day traditional cricket match against Thomas College. This year, it will be the 145th uninterrupted occasion and it is the longest school's encounter in the world". "In 1979, on the 100th year, our college team was led by Ranjan Madugalle, who is the ICC's chief match referee. The Sri Lankan president His Excellency Hon. Ranil Wichramsinghe and the Prime Minister Hon. Dinesh Gunawardana are also the sons of our College". "Royal–Thomian (the Battle of the Blues), commonly known simply as the Royal-Thomian, the cricket match has been played by the schools since 1879. This annual cricket match is played for the D. S. Senanayake Memorial Shield, and is affectionately known as the Battle of the Blues due to the colours of each school's flag"."The Royal-Thomian is the second-longest uninterrupted Cricket series in the entire world, preceded only by the Cricket Intercol played between Prince Alfred College, Adelaide and St. Peter's College, Adelaide, whose first match was played in 1878". "We hope our college captain Sineth will lead the national senior team soon in the future", he signed off.  

HBL PSL-9 to start on February 17, Gaddafi, and Pindi Stadium to host 9 matchesAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi will host 34 matches of PSL Season-9 and the prestigious cricket league will be kicked off on February 17, 2024 at the Qaddafi Cricket Stadium Lahore with the match between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United.Chair of PCB Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf said: “We are thrilled to announce that the HBL Pakistan Super League's ninth edition is set to kick off on February 17, showcasing the best of T20 cricket in four cities across Pakistan. The decision to host the marquee event across these cities is a testament to our commitment to bring top-notch cricket to fans across the country. We believe that hosting matches in these venues not only adds to the excitement for fans but also promotes cricket at the grassroots level. As we gear up for this spectacular event, we look forward to witnessing thrilling action and creating unforgettable moments for cricket enthusiasts worldwide.”Schedule of MatchesFebruary 17, 2024 Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium LahoreFebruary 18, 2024 Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium Lahore; Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings, Multan Cricket StadiumFebruary 19, 2024 Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Gaddafi Stadium LahoreFebruary 20, 2024 Multan Sultans v Islamabad United, Multan Cricket StadiumFebruary 21, 2024 Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium Lahore; Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars, Multan Cricket StadiumFebruary 22, 2024 Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium LahoreFebruary 23, 2024 Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Cricket StadiumFebruary 24, 2024 Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium LahoreFebruary 25, 2024 Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators, Multan Cricket Stadium; Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium LahoreFebruary 26, 2024 Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium LahoreFebruary 27, 2024 Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium LahoreFebruary 28, 2024 Karachi Kings v Islamabad United, National Bank StadiumFebruary 29, 2024 Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, National Bank Stadium                        March 2, 2024   Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket StadiumMarch 3, 2024   Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans, National Bank StadiumMarch 4, 2024   Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Pindi Cricket StadiumMarch 5, 2024   Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket StadiumMarch 6, 2024 Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket StadiumMarch 7, 2024   Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket StadiumMarch 8, 2024   Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket StadiumMarch 9, 2024   Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars, National Bank StadiumMarch 10, 2024 Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars, National Bank StadiumMarch 11, 2024 Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi, National Bank StadiumMarch 12, 2024 Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, National Bank Stadium                      March 14, 2024 Qualifier (1 v 2), National Bank StadiumMarch 15, 2024 Eliminator 1 (3 v 4), National Bank StadiumMarch 16, 2024 Eliminator 2 (Eliminator Winner v Qualifier Runner-up), National Bank StadiumMarch 18, 2024 Final, National Bank Stadium

Tournament to start on January 15 in twin cities Rawalpindi and IslamabadSports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The six teams will fight for the top honour of the National Women’s T20 Tournament 2024, which will start on January 15 (Monday) at the three different cricket venues of twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad simultaneously. Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, and Rawalpindi will play against each other during the 17-day fixture.The winning team will receive PKR one million, while the runners-up will get PKR 0.5 million, as the player of the tournament will be awarded PKR50,000, and Player of the match in each game will receive PKR20,000. The tournament’s top performers, best batter, best bowler, and best wicket-keeper, will get PKR 25,000.Squads:Karachi Region: Fatima Sana (Captain), Aimen Anwar, Aroob Shah, Esha Rahupoto, Hurraina Sajjad, Javeria Khan, Laiba Fatima, Maham Manzoor, Maham Tariq, Masooma Jaffri, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Yusra Amir and Zunaira ShahTeam Management: Tahir Khan (Head Coach), Jaweria Rauf (Assistant Coach), Sehar Syed (Physio), Taimoor Mehmood (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Shagufta Kazmi (Manager)Lahore Region: Nida Dar (Captain), Ayesha Zafar, Amber Kainaat, Areesha Noor, Bismah Maroof, Fatima Khan, Fatima Shahid, Ghulam Fatima, Iram Javed, Kainat Hafeez, Nashra Sundhu, Noreen Yaqoob, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz and Zunash Abdul SattarTeam management: Mohsin Kamal (Head Coach), Tahir Mehmood (Assistant Coach), Iraj Athar (Physio), Asfand Yar Khan (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and Hina Azam (Manager)Multan Region: Umm-e-Hani (Captain), Aisha Bilal, Aleena Masood, Amber Maria, Asma Shareef, Gul-e-Uswa, Gul Feroza, Gul Rukh, Noor Ul Eman, Rehmat Noreen, Saiqa Riaz, Samina Aftab, Shahmeer Rajput, Tasmia Rubab, Wajeeha Muneer and Warda YousafTeam Management: Kamran Hussain (Head Coach), Maria Gulnaz (Assistant Coach), Laila Niaz Khan (Physio), Pervaiz Nabi (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and Najma Zafar (Manager)Peshawar Region: Aleena Shah (Captain), Anaya Khan, Ayesha Afridi, Fatima Zeb, Javeria Qamar, Mahnoor Hayat, Mahnoor Qayum, Momina Riyasat, Nayab Ishaq, Rahyma Syed, Salwa Raheem, Seema Gul, Sehar Gull, Shabnam Hayat, Sumbal Bibi and Tehzeeb ShahTeam Management: Hajra Sarwar (Head Coach), Rehmat Gul (Assistant Coach), Rummana Zubair (Physio), Fazal Wahab (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and Haseena Khushboo (Manager)Quetta Region: Saima Malik (Captain), Anum Amin, Ayesha Asim, Dua Majid, Faiza, Fareeha Mehmood, Humaira Ghulam, Jannat Rashid, Khadija Chishti, Khair-u-Nisa, Khizra Liaqat, Lubaba Sarwar, Nida, Subhana Tariq, Tuba Hassan and Zamar ShafeeTeam Management: Aqil Baloch (Head Coach), Nahida Bibi (Assistant Coach), Mahnoor Sajjad (Physio), Mujahid Shah (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and Hajira Baloch (Manager)Rawalpindi Region: Aliya Riaz (Captain), Aima Saleem Satti, Areeja Haseeb, Fajar Naveed, Farzana Farooq, Fatima Syed, Fatima Zehra Shah, Humna Bilal, Kainat Gulalai, Lubna Behram, Natalia Parvaiz, Noor Fatima, Sania Rasheed, Tania Saeed, Waheeda Akhtar and Zainab Arif JuttTeam Management: Jawad Hamid (Head Coach), Waqar Orakzai (Assistant Coach), Tehreem Sumbal (Physio), Farrukh Hayat (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and Saira Iftikhar (Manager)

Sports Bulletin ReportAuckland (New Zeeland): Pakistan are well-prepared to take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series, which will be rolled into action on 12 January at Eden Park in Auckland. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 1110 PKT. This will mark left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first assignment as captain, having taken over the reins from Babar Azam.Fourth-ranked Pakistan last played T20Is back in April 2023, when they faced New Zealand at home for a five-match series played in Lahore and Rawalpindi. Wicketkeepe-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who has been named Shaheen’s vice-captain, was Pakistan’s leading run-getter in the series. Right-arm pacer Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler during that assignment.Pakistan’s squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, wicket-keeper), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jounior, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan.