Sports Bulletin

Jamil Siraj CANBERRA (Australia):-Cricket Australia (CA) has accepted men’s team head coach Justin Langer’s resignation, as he (Justin) was offered a short-term extension to his current contract, which sadly he has opted not to accept. CA would like to thank Justin for his outstanding leadership since he became Australian men’s team coach in 2018 and for guiding the team to the T20 World Cup title last year and the 4-0 Ashes victory. Justin is not only a legend of the game but an outstanding individual. The contract extension offered to Justin was the result of a thorough review process that evaluated many factors including future requirements of the team and the upcoming extensive schedule of fixtures. The extension was approved by the CA Board and was put to Justin last night. It included the opportunity to defend the T20 World Cup title in Australia at the end of this year. Justin informed CA this morning he was not accepting the offer and would resign with immediate effect. Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said: “Justin has been an outstanding coach of the Australian men’s team over the past four years.  “He has restored the trust in the team and his legacy is assured. “We are extremely proud of his achievements since he took over in 2018, including the recent T20 World Cup victory and Ashes success. “We are naturally disappointed Justin has decided against continuing as coach but respect his decision and wish him all the best in the future. “I would like to sincerely thank Justin and also his family for all that they have given to Australian cricket over the past four years, for which we remain eternally grateful.” Andrew McDonald has been appointed as interim head coach.

Bipin Dani Sri Lanka's Under-19 captain Dunith Wellalage is being criticized for inviting Pakistan to bat first, but it was not his sole decision, it is learnt. "It was decided in the team meeting to field first if the toss is won", one of the sources, speaking exclusively over the telephone said after the match, which Pak team won comfortably. "Mahela Jayawardene was not a part of this decision", the source also confirmed. "Mahela, the consultant, left for Colombo a few days before. He has so many other things to do", the source added. "One of his main tasks is to fill the coaching vacancies for various teams". Former Sri Lankan cricketer Naveed Nawaz is likely to be the key contender. The 48-year-old Naveed, who played one Test and three ODIs is a coach for the Bangladesh U-19 team and was already interviewed. "He was invited by the team management for a meal when Mahela was in the West Indies. However, no proper discussion on his appointment took place in the presence of other coaching staff and Sri Lankan commentator Russel Arnold and the match referee-Graham Labrooy were also present", the source further added.  Sri Lanka's U-19 team was originally booked to leave for Colombo on 6th February, however, the team management is awaiting the ICC plan for a pre-boned departure by a day, it is learnt.   According to the sources in the Caribbean Islands, if the bookings and seats are available in British Airways flight for 5th February the team may not wait there to watch India's final against England on Saturday. The team is scheduled to arrive in Colombo from Antigua via Gatwick and Doha.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-A fine all-round performance from Nivethan Radhakrishnan fired Australia to third place in the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup with a two-wicket win over Afghanistan. The ambidextrous all-rounder took three for 31 to limit Afghanistan to 201 all out batting first, before notching a half-century in the chase. Australia were made to sweat but eventually snuck home with five balls to spare. Afghanistan, hoping to better their previous best result in this tournament – fourth in 2018, won the toss and elected to bat at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua and Barbuda. However two early wickets for William Salzmann (3-43), removing Nangeyalia Kharote and Allah Noor, reduced Afghanistan to 15 for two. Mohammad Ishaq (34) and skipper Suliman Shafi (37) started to rebuild, adding 70 before the former was run out by Salzmann, the latter falling three balls later to Radhakrishnan. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai took up the baton, making 81 as wickets continued to tumble around him, before becoming the ninth man to fall as Salzmann’s final victim with the score on 201. Skipper Cooper Connolly (2-30) finished off the innings with his second wicket in the final over, leaving Australia with a manageable chase as they were set 202 to win. Campbell Kellaway (51) and Teague Wyllie (13) put on a half-century stand for the first wicket before the latter was bowled by Nangeyalia to bring Radhakrishnan to the crease. He and Kellaway added another 60 before a little wobble as Noor Ahmad removed both Kellaway and Connolly in quick succession. Isaac Higgins joined Radhakrishnan, scoring 11 in a 40-run partnership, but when both were dismissed with 35 still required, a few nerves started to appear. Lachlan Shaw (13) and Corey Miller (13) then added 26 to take Australia to the brink before three quick wickets gave Afghanistan hope. They took it to the final over, but Joshua Garner (four not out) held his nerve to see Australia home.

MANCHESTER (By H Shah):-Chris Silverwood has left his role as England Men’s Head Coach. The interim arrangement for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies will be announced in due course, says a press release. ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison said: “During his time in the role Chris has given absolutely everything to make a success of it. He is a man of great integrity, who players and staff alike have enjoyed working with. “Under Chris, England Men’s white ball teams have been ranked first and second in the world while he also led the Test team to a number of series wins including away in South Africa and Sri Lanka. “He has led the England Men’s team with great resilience and empathy through an incredibly challenging period for English cricket, and he deserves our sincere thanks and gratitude. “In the coming days Andrew Strauss will appoint a caretaker coach for the tour of the West Indies and will then consider the appropriate coaching structures to help England move forwards.” Chris Silverwood said: “It’s been an absolute honour to be England Head Coach, and I’m extremely proud to have worked alongside our players and staff. I want to thank them all for the hard work and commitment they have given during my time in the role and I wish them all the very best moving forward. “The last two years have been very demanding but I have really enjoyed my time with the team and working with Rooty and Morgs, and I am very proud of this group considering the challenges. I leave with fond memories and I am now looking forward to spending some quality time at home with my family and embracing the next chapter.”

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Pakistan Cricket Board and Cricket Australia today announced the revised itinerary of the 2022 Australia men’s cricket team’s tour of Pakistan for three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I. The tour will now start and end in Rawalpindi with the opening Test to be played from 4-8 March and the four white-ball matches to be played from 29 March to 5 April. The change in the first Test venue means that the second Test will be played in Karachi from 12-16 March and the third in Lahore from 21-25 March. PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain: “We are pleased that the Cricket Australia Board has formally approved their side’s five-week tour itinerary and confirmed that their best available players will visit Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. We are really excited to host Pat Cummins and his players, and look forward to a competitive series that will comprise three Tests, three ODIs and a T20I. “While Australia will arrive at the back of strong performances in their home series against England, our team has been playing excellent cricket resulting in our players sweeping the ICC Awards. This braces for a keenly contested series, something that the fans will thoroughly enjoy and remember for a long time.” The schedule has been revised to ease logistical and operational challenges as well as to avoid Pakistan Day rehearsals, which usually commence in Islamabad in the second week of March. The two cricket boards have also agreed that the Australia Test side will complete their isolation in Australia, before arriving in Islamabad on 27 February on a chartered flight. After a one-day room isolation, they will hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Australia’s white-ball players are expected to arrive in Lahore on 24 March following isolation in Australia. After a one-day isolation upon arrival, they will integrate with other members of the side and travel to Islamabad for the first ODI in Rawalpindi on 29 March. The Tests will be part of the ICC World Test Championship, while the ODIs are linked to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League from which the top eight sides, including hosts India, will qualify directly for the 2023 50-over World Cup. Revised schedule: 27 Feb – Arrival in Islamabad 4-8 Mar – 1st Test, Rawalpindi 12-16 Mar – 2nd Test, Karachi 21-25 Mar – 3rd Test, Lahore 29 Mar – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi 31 Mar – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi 2 April – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi 5 Apr – one-off T20I, Rawalpindi

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:- Pakistan and South Africa both signed off their ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup campaigns on a positive note with victories on Thursday. Two-time champions Pakistan eased past Sri Lanka in the fifth placed playoff after the two sides chances of lifting the trophy ended at the quarter-final stage last week. Meanwhile elsewhere in Antigua, South Africa finish in seventh place after a closely fought two-wicket victory over Bangladesh. Skipper Akram shines for Pakistan Pakistan were in command from the off at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, with openers Mohammad Shehzad and Haseebullah Khan dominating the Sri Lanka attack. The pair led Pakistan to 100 without loss, Shehzad eventually made 73 off just 69 deliveries before he was dismissed by vice-captain Raveen de Silva. But Khan was joined at the crease by the impressive skipper Qasim Akram and the two took the game away from Sri Lanka, putting on a superb stand. Both made centuries and took Pakistan beyond 350, Khan was finally gone when trapped by Matheesha Pathirana ending on 136. Akram remained unbeaten as his side closed on 365-3, setting their opponents a daunting task to claim fifth place. And the Sri Lankan response was in tatters after just two overs with Akram wreaking havoc with the new ball. The talented all-rounder removed openers Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Pawan Pathiraja for a combined total of just one, with Shevon Daniel also falling between the two. Ranuda Somarathna also went for a duck with Akram single-handedly reducing Sri Lanka to 4-15. From then on Sri Lanka were purely batting for pride. Their captain Dunith Wellalage didn’t go without a fight and made a brave 40, which included five boundaries. Vinuja Ranpul was in similarly defiant mood hitting 53 not out and his sides only two sixes of the match. But it wasn’t enough and Pakistan cleaned up a 238 run victory when Treveen Mathew was hit on the pads by Zeeshan Zameer’s full delivery, bowling out the Sri Lanka team inside 35 overs to secure 5th place. Excellent Brevis helps South Africa to narrow playoff win Over at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, South Africa were also aiming to end their time in the Caribbean on a high, taking on Bangladesh in the 7th place playoff. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Bangladesh made a strong start reaching 50 without loss only for Mahfijul Islam to fall to Liam Alder in the 10th over. But fourth man in Ariful Islam kept maximum pressure on the South African attack, smashing 102 from 103 balls and finding the boundary on 12 separate occasions. The 17-year-old looked untouchable for so much of the Bangladeshi innings, right until the 47th over when Mathew Boast found a good line and Islam pulled his shot to South Africa captain George Van Heerden. The Bengal Tigers eventually reached a strong total of 293-8 at the end of their 50 overs. In reply, South Africa lost Jade Smith in the sixth over when outside edging Musfik Hasan’s delivery. But Dewald Brevis, who hit 97 in the quarter-final defeat to England, offered some hope for his team with a century eventually finishing with 138 off 130 balls. The other end was less reliable, Van Heerden and Gerhardus Maree both going cheaply, however Mathew Boast’s quickfire 41 from 22 kept them on track. In a nervy finale, it looked like Andile Simelane would take South Africa over the line, but he was run-out after tidy fielding from Ripon Mondol. But eventually they got the win, and seventh place, in fine style when Alder punched a big drive down the leg side that went for six, securing a two-wicket victory in the process. This bettered their final placing at the 2020 tournament where they finished eighth, but for defending champions Bangladesh a difficult three weeks ended in defeat.

Bipin Dani Niroshan Dickwella, one of the three Sri Lanka cricketers who were suspended for bio-bubble breach in England has made the best use of his ban-period. The 28-year-old wicketkeeper batter has successfully graduated from Global Technological Campus (GTC) with OTHM Level 4 & 5 programme in Business Management awarded by OTHM (UK). "Niroshan Dickwella is a professional cricketer and his recent qualification is equivalent to the first and second years of a Bachelor’s Degree and will allow him to complete the final year at several prestigious universities in the UK", Mohamed Azmy, the institution's Chief Operations Officer, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, said.  "As a professional sportsman, Niroshan is also interested in one of GTC’s exclusive programmes, the Advanced Diploma in Sports Management. This is a management programme with a specific practical focus on the Sporting Industry. The programme teaches management related topics from a sports perspective". "The programme also covers topics that are only relevant to the sporting industry like Nutrition & Health, Sports Psychology, Sports Coaching, Sports History and Contemporary Debates in Sports". This programme has been prepared by GTC for sports professionals with a long-term focus and plan on developing their careers in Sports Management. "Niroshan and many others studied and completed their courses during the height of COVID-19 pandemic and they have been awarded the certificates", he signed off.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-India advanced to their eighth ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup final with a comprehensive 96-run defeat of Australia and will face England in the showpiece. Shaik Rasheed and Yash Dhull put on the second biggest partnership of the tournament, adding 204 runs for the third wicket after a shaky start for the Men in Blue. Australia never got going in their reply to 290 as leading wicket-taker Vicky Ostwal took three for 42 with Australia eventually bowled out for 194. They will now face Afghanistan in the 3rd/4th place play-off on Friday before the grand finale between England and India on Saturday. India make Australia pay to reach fourth consecutive final India got off to a slow start having won the toss and chosen to bat, openers Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harnoor Singh added just 16 runs in 7.4 overs before the former was dismissed by a pearler from William Salzmann. The right-arm seamer deceived Raghuvanshi with a length ball, the right-hander playing a shot but instead saw the ball uproot his off stump. Singh would follow having made 16 from 28 before Shaik Rasheed and captain Yash Dhull put on a strong third-wicket stand, reaching their fifty partnership off 78 balls, one delivery into the second half of the innings. Dhull then proceeded to find the boundary with increasing regularity taking advantage of wayward bowling by Salzmann. The skipper was joined on a half-century by Rasheed as India passed 150 with just two wickets gone, the pair then passed 140 runs between them and as they did Australia missed a golden chance to end the partnership. Salzmann found the ball in his hand with the chance to secure a near-certain run-out, the pressure told as the ball ballooned on its way to the stumps and India survived. Dhull then brought up his first century for India, coming off 106 balls, with the 200-partnership following soon after. Australia would then secure their run out, as Dhull was forced to go for a run-a-ball 110 before Rasheed was out the very next ball falling six runs short of his own hundred. It did not get much better for Australia, however, as the final over went for 27 runs to see India post an imposing 290 for five. The dangerous Teague Wyllie was out leg before wicket for just one run in the second over to hamper Australia’s chances further as they emerged from the powerplay only three runs ahead of India, who had yet to get going at that point. Corey Miller would fall in the same way as Wyllie but not before putting on 38 from 46 balls to move Australia to 71 for two in the 17th over. Vicky Ostwal would then add to his tally as India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament (now 12), dismissing opener Campbell Kellaway for 30 as he sent a drive straight to Nishant Sindhu. It was now up to Australian captain Cooper Connolly to match his opposite number but could add only three runs as he top-edged a looping catch to Rasheed. Instead, Lachlan Shaw was the man to try and steer Australia to an increasingly improbable run chase, but he could not find a partner as the next three batters fell cheaply to leave Australia on 125 for seven. Australia’s first six came sooner than their opponents, in the 37th over to India’s 44th, but the very next ball broke their eighth-wicket partnership which had added 42 runs. Milestones continued to bring dismissals, Lachlan Shaw going five balls after bringing up his half-century as Ravi Kumar took his second wicket. Tailender Tom Whitney put up some resistance including crashing back-to-back sixes but was run out to signal the end of his side’s challenge for the title. India’s victory means the two undefeated sides will face off as they take on England at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua and Barbuda on 5 February.

Aamir Ali Janjua DUBAI (UAE):-As part of the 2021 edition of the ICC Awards, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Daryl Mitchell as the winner of the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for 2021. Mitchell won the award for his gesture of refusing to take a single in the high-pressure ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Abu Dhabi on November 10, 2021. Earning the respect of the international cricket fraternity instantly, Mitchell becomes the fourth New Zealand player to win the award, following the footsteps of Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson. The incident took place in the first delivery of the 18th over bowled by England spinner Adil Rashid with Jimmy Neesham on strike. New Zealand at that moment required 34 off the final three overs and despite the match situation, Mitchell refused to take the single as he felt he was in the bowler's way, who tried to stop the ball on his follow-through.  Neesham had hit the ball firmly slightly wide off Rashid's reach, who collided with Mitchell as he went on to stop the ball. Neesham was eager to take the single and had come down the wicket seeing the opportunity but was turned down by Mitchell from the other end.  Commenting on receiving the honour and reflecting on that moment, Daryl Mitchell, said: “It is a real honour to receive the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award and it was absolutely amazing to be part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that happened in UAE last year. Reflecting back, it was a pretty tight game against England at the semi-final of the tournament with only a few overs to go, Neesh hit a single down to long-off and I think I obstructed Rashid who was trying to get to the ball. “We pride ourselves as a team, in the way we play our cricket and I guess that’s the spirit of cricket. Personally, I felt like I got in the way, and we wanted to win but on our own terms. I guess it paid off in the long run, that we won the game. “We want to win every game, but we don’t want to do it in a way that goes against the values of cricket. The spirit of cricket is very important. It is a platform for young cricketers to watch and learn and to get inspired to play the game and go about winning it in the right way. At the end of the day, it is just a game, and it is a game that we all love, and we are very lucky to be able to do that in the right way.” “Personally, there are more important things than winning a game of cricket and at that moment it was the right thing to do.” This spirit is described in the preamble to the laws of cricket: "Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its laws but also within the spirit of the game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself."

Bipin Dani World's greatest all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers was "more than happy" to congratulate the newest and Windies' first double hat-trick achiever Jason Holder on Sunday. Jason Holder emulated Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, Sri lanka's Lasith Malinga & Ireland's Curtis Campher to become the fourth bowler in T20I cricket to claim four wickets in four balls. He did so against England at Bridgetown in the fifth and final match of the series, which enabled his team to win the match and the series.  "I was present at the Kensington Oval ground and after the match was invited by the team management to meet. I personally met Holder and congratulated his double hat-trick", Sobers, speaking exclusively over the telephone said. "Grabbing 4 in 4 is rare and not many bowlers have achieved this. Holder is a no. 1 very good cricketer and it was his fantastic performance. I wished him good luck for the upcoming India tour as well", he added. India-born Anuradha Doddaballapur, who is now a cardiovascular scientist in Germany was the first woman player to take four wickets in four balls in T20 internationals (against Austria in August 2020). (On 26th January this year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent her a special message in Frankfurt on India's 75th year of freedom). Beaver-trick Holder's father, Ronald Holder speaking exclusively, says this feat of 4 in 4 is also known as a Beaver-trick.