Sports Bulletin

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai (December 1, 2021):-Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has made it to the top five of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings for the first time in his career after a fine show in the first Test against Bangladesh which Pakistan won by eight wickets. The 21-year-old left-armer, who grabbed seven wickets including a haul of five for 32 in the second innings of the Chittagong Test, has moved up three places to fifth position after overtaking James Anderson, Kagiso Rabada and Neil Wagner. Shaheen’s new-ball partner Hasan Ali too is at a career-best position after finishing with a similar seven-wicket match haul that included a five-for in the first innings. Hasan has advanced five places to 11th place. His previous best in Tests was 14th, reached in May this year. Pakistan’s opening batters were not the ones to be left behind. Abid Ali may have missed out on a century in each innings but his scores of 133 and 91 helped him shoot up 27 slots to a career-best 20th position while Abdullah Shafique enters the rankings at 83rd with scores of 52 and 73. For Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim is up four places to 19th with scores of 91 and 16 while Liton Das has moved up 26 places to a career-best 31st position after accruing 114 and 59. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam has progressed two places to 23rd after an eight-wicket match haul that included seven scalps in the first innings. The thrilling draw in Kanpur between India and New Zealand had quite a few performances from either side that reflect in the latest weekly update that also includes the first Test between Sri Lanka and the West Indies at Galle, which the host side won by 187 runs. Debutant Shreyas Iyer’s Player of the Match effort of 105 and 65 helped him enter the rankings in 74th position while opener Shubman Gill (up six places to 66th) and Wriddhiman Saha (up nine places to 99th) also made notable progress after notching half-centuries. Ravindra Jadeja is up two places to 19th among bowlers with five wickets in the match and is also up one place to second among all-rounders. Ravichandran Ashwin is the third-ranked all-rounder and 79th among batters. For New Zealand, Tom Latham’s knocks of 95 and 52 place him back in the top 10 as he goes up from 14th to ninth. Fast bowler Kyle Jamieson is ninth among bowlers, his three wickets in each innings resulting in a gain of six places. Tim Southee has gained 15 rating points to reach within one point of second-placed Ashwin (840) after his eight-wicket match haul. Sri Lanka, whose win in their first match of the ICC Men’s Test Championship put them on top of the table powered by MRF (on percentage points), also had some improvements after the Galle Test. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne’s Player of the Match effort of 147 and 83 has lifted him four places to seventh, just one below his career-best sixth position attained in August 2019. Former captains Angelo Mathews (up two places to 23rd) and Dinesh Chandimal (up four places to 46th) have also advanced. Left-arm spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (up four places to 37th) and Praveen Jayawickrama (up six places to 44th) and off-spinner Ramesh Mendis (up 28 places to 57th) have improved in the rankings for bowlers.

Karachi (Sports Report):-Aleem Dar, member of ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, will team up with Ahsan Raza, who is one of the four Pakistani umpires in the ICC International Panel of Umpires, for the on-field umpiring duties of the first of the three T20I between Pakistan and the West Indies at the National Stadium, Karachi. The experienced umpire Aleem Dar will also be the on-field umpire for the three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League fixtures between the two teams, and will be joined by Asif Yaqoob, Ahsan Raza and Rashid Riaz at the other end for the first, second and third ODIs, respectively. Match referee Mohammad Javed Malik will be lead the playing control teams for all six matches. Match schedule (all matches to be played at National Stadium, Karachi): 13 Dec – 1st T20I: Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire). Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee) 14 Dec – 2nd T20I: Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire). Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee) 16 Dec – 3rd T20I: Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire). Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee) 18 Dec – 1st ODI: Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire). Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee) 20 Dec – 2nd ODI: Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field umpires), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire). Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee) 22 Dec – 3rd ODI: Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Asif Yaqoon (fourth umpire). Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee)

Dhaka, Bangladesh (SB Report):-Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) named the 20-player squad for the 2nd Test match against Pakistan regarding the ICC Test Championship, starting from December 4, 2021 at Dhaka, as top all-rounder Shakib-ul-Hasan included after showing acceptable fitness. Left-arm batsman, Shakib had missed the first Test at Chittagong, won by Pakistan comprehensively by 8 wickets despite of going first innings deficit, has now included in the squad. Shakib passed a fitness test in Dhaka on Monday, which brought him back into a team. Name of players: Mominul Haque (captain), Shadman Islam, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Abu Jayed, Nayeem Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Khaled Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Mohammad Naim.

Saad Kayani KARACHI (November 30, 2021):-The seventh-round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 began at three Karachi venues today. The opening day was dominated by Southern Punjab and Northern batters while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bowlers reigned supreme against Sindh. The toss was uncontested at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi as Southern Punjab were asked to bat first by Balochistan. Left-handed batter Zeeshan Ashraf who was included in the Southern Punjab squad for this round, made an immediate impression for his side with a stroke-filled 102 off 116 balls (13 fours, three sixes). Salman posted the 10th first-class century of his career as he took over the scoring reins after Zeeshan’s departure. The right-hander hit 15 fours in his typically stylish unbeaten 117-run innings that was compiled off 182 balls. Salman was at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day with Southern Punjab placed at a healthy 327 for three after 85 overs batting. Salman has so far added 154 runs for the unfinished fourth-wicket partnership with Yousuf Babar (45 off 117 balls, four fours). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa opted to bowl after an uncontested toss against table-toppers Sindh at the State Bank of Pakistan Stadium. The match is being live streamed on PCB’s YouTube channel. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bowlers made most of the conditions and the decision to bowl first by reducing Sindh to 78 for four at lunch. Left-arm-spinner Asif Afridi made the inroads before lunch as he dismissed Sindh’s in form openers (Khurram Manzoor and Ahsan Ali) cheaply. Pacer Irfanullah Shah took over the wicket taking mantle post-lunch as Sindh were sent packing for 145 in 42.1 overs. The right-armer Irfan recorded the sixth five-wicket haul of his first-class career taking with figures of 12-2-43-5. Asif took three while pacer Arshad Iqbal took two wickets. Captain Asad Shafiq and Faraz Ali were the combined best scorers for Sindh with 31 runs each. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s superb bowling effort earned them the full six bowling points. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lost their first two wickets with only 32 runs on the board. At this stage captain Iftikhar Ahmed joined opener Musadiq Ahmed. The two added 92 runs for their unbroken third-wicket stand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa finished the day a mere 21 runs behind Sindh at 124 for two. Musadiq has so far hit nine fours and one six in his 72 off 93 balls, Iftikhar’s unbeaten 34 has come off 69 balls with the aid of four fours. Over at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex, Northern got off to a steady start against Central Punjab who had opted to bowl after an uncontested toss. Northern reached 77 for one at lunch. Opener Muhammad Huraira who is featuring in his maiden first-class season scored an enterprising 54 off 108 balls (eight fours). Huraira added 96 runs for the second-wicket with his captain Umar Amin who scored 50 off 73 balls (seven fours). Both Huraira and Umar fell with the score at 119, at this stage Haider Ali was joined by Faizan Riaz. Haider took control by playing some typically aggressive shots in his stellar batting performance. The right-hander fresh from a player of the match winning performance in the third Bangladesh-Pakistan T20I hit as many as many as 22 fours and one six in his unbeaten 141 off 168 balls. Haider now has three first-class centuries to his name in only nine appearances. Haider added 204 runs in the unbroken fourth-wicket alliance with Faizan Riaz who proved the perfect foil for Haider with 57 off 131 balls (five fours). Muhammad Ali with two wickets was the most successful bowler of the day for Central Punjab. Scores in brief: Southern Punjab vs Balochistan –UBL Sports Complex, Karachi Southern Punjab 327 for 3, 85 overs (Salman Ali Agha 117 not out, Zeeshan Ashraf 102, Yousuf Babar 45 not out; Akif Javed 1-59) Points so far: Southern Punjab – three, Balochistan – one. Sindh vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa –State Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Sindh 145 all out, 42.1 overs (Asad Shafiq 31, Faraz Ali 31; Irfanullah Shah 5-43, Asif Afridi 3-16) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 124 for 2, 32 overs (Musadiq Ahmed 72 not out, Iftikhar Ahmed 34 not out; Sohail Khan 1-24) Points so far: Sindh – zero, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - six. Northern vs Central Punjab – National Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Northern 323 for 3, 87 overs (Haider Ali 141 not out, Faizan Riaz 57 not out, Mohammad Huraira 54; Mohammad Ali 2-54) Points so far: Northern - three, Central Punjab - one.

Chittagong, Bangladesh (SB Report):-Pakistan earned 1-0 lead in the two-test match series against hosts Bangladesh after registering a comprehensive win by 8 wickets in the morning session of the final day’s play of the first Tests at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong on Tuesday. With the win, Pakistan collected 12 World Test Championship points and jumped to the second spot on the points table with 66.66 percentage of points – which is a percentage of the points gained from the total available in matches a side has feature. Pakistan openers Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique dominated the first half hour as the pair stroked the ball around the ground with ease and grace. Abdullah added 20 more to his overnight 53 before he was LBW off Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Abid Ali, not out on 56 yesterday, fell nine runs short of becoming the 10th Pakistan batter in men’s Tests to record a century in both innings of a match, when he was plumb in front off Taijul Islam. For his fighting 133 in the first innings and an elegant 91 in the second, Abid was named player of the match. The experienced pair of Azhar Ali and Babar Azam took Pakistan over the line, as they were unbeaten on 24 and 13.This marked the third instance of Pakistan successfully completing a 200-plus run chase away from home. The two teams will face off the final Test in Dhaka from 4 December. Scores in brief: Bangladesh 330, 114.4 overs (Liton Das 114, Mushfiqur Rahim 91, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 38 not out; Hasan Ali 5-51, Faheem Ashraf 2-54, Shaheen Afridi 2-70) and 157 all out, 56.2 overs (Liton Das 59, Yasir Ali 36; Shaheen Shah Afridi 5-32, Sajid Khan 3-33) Pakistan 286 all out, 115.4 overs (Abid Ali 133, Abdullah Shafique 52, Faheem Ashraf 38; Taijul Islam 7-116, Ebadot Hossain 2-47) and 203-2, 58.3 overs (Abid Ali 91, Abdullah Shafique 73, Azhar Ali 24 not out) Player of the match – Abid Ali (Pakistan)

Chittagong (SB Report):-A brilliant century stand for the undefeated first wicket between Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique had Pakistan on the verge of victory in the first Test against Bangladesh before fading light resulted in early stumps on the fourth day. Pakistan, chasing 202 to win the first of the two Tests, were 109 for none in 33 overs with Abid Ali, fresh from a century in the first innings, and Abdullah Shafique, who made 52 on day two, scoring solid half-centuries. This was only the second time in Pakistan’s Test history, which stretch 440 matches, that an opening pair recorded two century stands in a match. Imran Farhat and Taufiq Umer did it first time against South Africa in Lahore in 2003, when Pakistan came out victorious by eight wickets. Abid and Abdullah were unbeaten at 56 and 53 and will resume Pakistan’s pursuit of the remaining 93 runs on Tuesday. Earlier, a sizzling Shaheen Shah Afridi recorded his fourth Test five-wicket haul, which restricted Bangladesh to 157. The left-arm pacer returned five for 32, sending Liton Das (59) and Abu Jayed back in the hut after he had taken three wickets for six runs last day. Liton scored a fighting 59 off 89 to keep Bangladesh’s innings alive, after debutant Yasir Ali had to walk off the field after a scorching bouncer by Shaheen hit the flesh of his helmet. Bangladesh took Nurul Hasan Sohan as Yasir’s concussion replacement. Off-spinner Sajid Khan was also amongst the wicket takers as he accounted for Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nurul Hasan and Taijul Islam. Scores in brief: Bangladesh 330, 114.4 overs (Liton Das 114, Mushfiqur Rahim 91, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 38 not out; Hasan Ali 5-51, Faheem Ashraf 2-54, Shaheen Afridi 2-70) and 157 all out, 56.2 overs (Liton Das 59, Yasir Ali 36; Shaheen Shah Afridi 5-32, Sajid Khan 3-33) Pakistan 286 all out, 115.4 overs (Abid Ali 133, Abdullah Shafique 52, Faheem Ashraf 38; Taijul Islam 7-116, Ebadot Hossain 2-47) and 109-0, 33 overs (Abid Ali 56 not out, Abdullah Shafique 53 not out)

Islamabad (Sports Report):-Syed Mudassar Ahmad Bukhari, Azmat Bashir and Nasir Mehmood guided Shifa International Hospital XIs Islamabad to 55 runs victory against Indus Xls Lal Kurhti Rawalpindi in a friendly cricket match here at XI Star Cricket ground Islamabad. Shifa International Captain Qutab Uddin Qureshi won the toss and decided to bat first, Shifa International, Shifa International piled up 228 for loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 25 overs.  Batsman Azmat Bashir hit half century 65 runs 54 balls with 2 sixes and 5 fours, Nasir Mehmood scored fast half century 58 runs 30 balls with 4 sixes and 3 fours, while Ibrar Ikhlaq 31, Shahzad Kiani 26 and Captain Qutab Uddin Qureshi 22 were their leading run-getters. Indus Xl Danish (3 for 47), Faisal (2 for 30) and Inzimam (1 for 32) were the other main wicket-takers. In reply, Indus Xl could score 173 for eight in 25 overs. Inzimam (40) not out, Abdul Ahad Khurram (29) and Samad 23 were their main scorers. Syed Mudassar Ahmad Bukhari bowled well and claimed 4 players out for 26 runs in 5 overs, while Mohammad Asif (1 for 12), Ali Mubashir (1for13) and Aamir Sohail (1 for 22) bowled well for Shifa International.

Chittagong (SB Report):-A searing opening spell from Shaheen Shah Afridi left Bangladesh ruing a squandered opportunity to build on the first innings lead as the hosts, batting for the second time in the match, finished the third day of the first Test against Pakistan on 39 for four. Shaheen struck in the fifth over and sent Shadman Islam and Najmul Hasan Shanto packing in space of three balls before Hasan Ali got the Bangladesh skipper, Mominul Haque, in the next over as the hosts found themselves reduced to 15 for three in just two overs. Soon, a scorching bouncer from Shaheen induced a caught and bowled opportunity that the pacer grabbed safely as Saif Hasan walked back to the pavilion with the scoreboard reading 25 for four. This was his 42nd scalp in 2021 – the most in the year for a bowler. Bangladesh were 44 runs ahead Pakistan after the tourists were bowled out for 286 and as such have an 83-run lead. Experienced Mushfiqur Rahim and debutant Yasir Ali will resume the proceedings for the hosts on the fourth day, Monday. Earlier, left-arm orthodox Taijul Islam recorded the best figures for a Bangladesh bowler against Pakistan in Tests as he returned seven for 116. Pakistan, after resuming the day on 145 for none, had to face early blows as Abdullah Shafiq (52) and Azhar Ali (0) were trapped LBW in consecutive balls by Taijul. Soon, Pakistan captain Babar Azam (10) followed them, but Abid Ali remained undeterred as he went on to convert his overnight 93 into 133 to record his fourth Test century. This was also his fourth first-class century in the last five matches. With the wickets tumbling regularly, Fahim Ashraf delayed the inevitable with his steady 80-ball 38. He was the last batter to be dismissed. Scores in brief: Bangladesh 330, 114.4 overs (Liton Das 114, Mushfiqur Rahim 91, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 38 not out; Hasan Ali 5-51, Faheem Ashraf 2-54, Shaheen Afridi 2-70) and 39-4, 19 overs (Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-6) Pakistan 286 all out, 115.4 overs (Abid Ali 133, Abdullah Shafique 52, Faheem Ashraf 38; Taijul Islam 7-116, Ebadot Hossain 2-47)

Harare (SB Report):-Player of the match Anam Amin’s brilliant three for nine in seven overs scripted Pakistan Women’s mammoth 114-run win over Zimbabwe Women in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier at Sunrise Club. In what was Pakistan’s last outing in the tournament following the ICC’s decision to end the tournament due to Covid-19-related uncertainties and after the global governing body’s decision to grant qualification to Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh on the basis of their rankings as per the tournament’s playing conditions, Zimbabwe were rolled out for 81 in 26.2 overs. Sadiq Iqbal, another left-arm orthodox, also took three wickets as she returned three for four from her four overs. Pacer Fatima Sana and off-spinner Omaima Sohail took two wickets each. Only two Zimbabwe batters could enter double figures. Earlier, Pakistan, after being asked to bat, made 195 for the loss of six wickets with Aliya Riaz top-scoring with 48 not out. The right-hander struck three sixes and one four as she brought up her runs at a strike rate of above 82. Pakistan captain Javeria Khan also made 48 – hitting six fours off 87 balls. Her opening stand with Muneeba Ali (19 off 39) was worth 57. Scores in brief: Pakistan Women 195-6, 50 overs (Aliya Riaz 48 not out, Javeria Khan 48, Iram Javed 24) Zimbabwe Women 81 all out, 26.2 overs (Anam Amin 3-7, Sadia Iqbal 3-4, Omaima Sohail 2-7, Fatima Sana 2-20) Player of the match – Anam Amin (Pakistan Women)

Karachi (Sports Report):-Central Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa registered contrasting wins on day-four of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 sixth-round matches in Karachi. Central Punjab thumped Southern Punjab by an innings and 56 runs while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won a closely fought encounter against Northern by four wickets. Central Punjab recorded their first win of the ongoing season as they defeated the table-toppers heading into the sixth-round Southern Punjab by a massive margin at the State Bank of Pakistan Stadium Karachi. Resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 105 for five, Southern Punjab were dismissed for 175 in 47.3 overs. Yousuf Babar who was unbeaten on 30 when play began fell for 47. All-rounder Aamer Yamin who took a five-wicket haul in Central Punjab’s lone innings hammered a quickfire 32 off 16 balls (four fours, one six) but failed to take his side past an innings defeat. Pacer Bilawal Iqbal took five wickets for 23 runs, the 10th five-fer of his first-class career, Mohammad Ali and Nasir Ahmed took three and two wickets each as the pace bowlers dominated the proceedings. Central Punjab collected 26 points while Southern Punjab had to be content with four. Over at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex, Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chased down 223 runs in the final hour of play against Northern to also record their first win of the season. Resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 240 for six, Northern were bowled out for 256, setting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a 223-run chase. Northern batters could only add 16 runs on the fourth morning, left-arm-spinner Asif Afridi took three wickets while pacers Irfanullah Shah, Arshad Iqbal and Sameen Gul two wickets each for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. After a 60-run first-wicket stand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa crashed to 149 for five as Northern fought back. Nabi Gul (34 not out, 69 balls, four fours) and captain Khalid Usman (16 not out, 16 balls, three fours) took the team past the target. Ashfaq Ahmed top-scored with 45 (75 balls, two fours), opener Musadiq Ahmed scored 35 off 36 balls (six fours). Zaid Alam and Raza Hassan took two wickets each for Northern. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa collected 23 points while Northern tallied six points from the match. Scores in brief: Central Punjab beat Southern Punjab by an innings and 56 runs –State Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Southern Punjab 228 all out, 77 overs (Umar Siddiq 85, Salman Ali Agha 61, Waqas Maqsood 4-52, Muhammad Ali 4-57) and 175 all out, 47.3 overs (Yousuf Babar 47, Aamer Yamin 32; Bilawal Iqbal 5-23, Mohammad Ali 3-40, Nisar Ahmed 2-49) Central Punjab 459 all out, 116.4 overs (Rizwan Hussain 253, Muhammad Saad 61, Nisar Ahmed 54; Aamer Yamin 5-122, Muhammad Imran 2-74) Match points: Central Punjab - 26, Southern Punjab - four. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Northern by four wickets – National Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Northern 250 all out, 83.4 overs (Mubasir Khan 96, Muhammad Huraira 70; Arshad Iqbal 2-38, Sameen Gul 2-41) and 256 all out, 78.2 overs (Umar Amin 110, Mubasir Khan 52; Asif Afridi 3-60, Irfanullah Shah 2-33, Arshad Iqbal 2-49) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 284 all out, 93.4 overs (Adil Amin 128 not out, Asif Afridi 62; Kashif Ali 5-45, Zaid Alam 3-34) and 225 for 6, 60.5 overs (Ashfaq Ahmed 45, Musadiq Ahmed 35, Nabi Gul 34 not out; Zaid Alam 2-29, Raza Hasan 2-62) Match points: Northern - six, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - 23.