Sports Bulletin

SB Report ISLAMABAD:-Besides hosts Attock, Quetta, Abbottabad and Multan qualified for the semifinals on NBP National Blind’s Cricket Trophy Grade II after beating winning their matches at two different venues. Now,  the   1st semifinal will be played between Attock and Quetta while 2nd semifinal will take place between Abbottabad and Multan at Attock Cricket Stadium Attock. Game 1:  Multan Vs Faisalabad: (Venue: Attock Cricket Stadium Attock) Faisalabad won the toss and decided to bowl first. Multan managed to score 191 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in stipulated 20 Overs. Ghulam Akbar was the highest scorer with 68 runs. Asad Mehboob took 3 wickets and Ejaz took 1 wicket. Faisalabad in reply reached the target of 192 runs in 18.3 overs for the loss of 4 wickets. Ejaz Hussain was the star batsmen for Faisalabad he made 78 runs. Ehtisham claimed 1 wicket. Result: Faisalabad won by 6 wickets Man of the Match: Ejaz Hussain Game 2:  Abbottabad Vs Sargodha (Venue: Comsats University Cricket Ground, Attock) Abbottabad won the toss and elected to bowl first. Abbottabad bowling didn’t allow Sargodha batsmen to bat fluently. Sargodha set the competitive total of 242 runs on the board for the loss of 2 wickets in 20 overs. The prominent scorer was Gul Sher with unbeaten 119* runs. Sohail and Riasat Khan claimed 1 wicket each. Abbottabad in reply chased the target in 15.1 overs without any loss. Riasat Khan was the star batsmen he made unbeaten 116* runs and Naeem Ullah also scored unbeaten 100*. Result: Abbottabad won by 10 wickets Man of the Match: Riasat Khan Game 3:- Attock vs Hyderabad: (Venue: Attock Cricket Stadium Attock) Hyderabad won the toss and decided to bat first. Hyderabad was bowled out on 77 runs in 14.5 Overs. Obaid Ullah was their top scorer with 22 runs. Haroon, Nuaman and Sohail shared 2 wickets each. In reply, Attock chased the target in Just 3 overs for the loss of 1 wicket. Bilal Sarwar made 42.  Result: Attock won by 9 wickets Man of the Match: Muhammad Sohail Game 4: Quetta Vs Sheikhupura: (Venue: Comsats University Cricket Ground Attock)   Quetta won the toss and decided to bat first. Quetta batsmen smashed 364 runs in stipulated 20 overs for the loss of 2 wickets. Niamat Ullah played brilliantly and made 146 runs. Majid picked 2 wickets.  Sheikopura in reply made 217 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in stipulated 20 Overs. Asraf Bhatti was their best scorer with 96 runs.  Qaiser and Mohsin took 1 wicket each. Result: Quetta won by 157 runs Man of the Match: Niamat Ullah

SB News ISLAMABAD (December 20, 2019):-England Women beat Pakistan Women by 26 runs in the third and final T20I to complete a 3-0 series win at Kuala Lumpur’s Kinrara Oval on Friday. After winning the toss and electing to bat, England captain Heather Knight scored a quickfire 31-ball 43 which helped her side post an impressive 170 for three. Knight’s 81-run partnership for the second-wicket with Amy Jones (37 off 35) was instrumental in giving England a firm grip of the innings after opener Danni Wyatt – who hit two fours and two sixes in her 15-ball 25 – was dismissed by Umaima Sohail, who returned one for 18 in three overs. For her batting performance, the England captain was named player of the match. Heather Knight said: “I think it's been a good tour for us. We asked the batters to get big runs and that's happened across both the ODI and the T20I series. “I think we've found some new players, as well. Sarah Glenn has really put her hand up and that's great for us, it adds to the competition for places and makes us stronger as a group. “I've been proud of how we've maintained our high standards, especially in the field - which is something we've been working hard on. “We're looking forward to the new year and the challenge of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Australia.” An unbeaten 52-run stand between Fran Wilson and Tammy Beaumont in the last 5.4 overs rescued England and ensured that the visitors finish on a high note after Jones and Knight fell in a span of seven deliveries. Both Wilson and Beaumont struck a four and a six each as the former scored 29 off 24 while the latter made 23 runs at a strike rate of 143.75. For Pakistan, pacer Diana Baig was the stand out bowler with two wickets for 28 runs in four overs. Pakistan openers couldn’t provide their side a desired start as Ayesha Zafar (nine of eight) and Nahida Khan (eight of 19) were back in the pavilion in 4.4 overs with 29 runs on the scoreboard. Javeria Khan, batting at three, recorded her eighth half-century in the format with an unbeaten 57. The right-handed batter struck five fours and a six in the 56 balls that she faced. She did not get the desired support from the other end as Pakistan kept losing wickets on regular intervals. The next best score came from wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz, who made 19 not out from seven balls. Javeria Khan said: “This innings was due on me as I was not able to put up scores earlier in the series. I look forward to execute what I have learnt from this series against a quality side like England and implement it in the T20 World Cup. Unlike this series, I am hopeful that I will be scoring runs from the first match in that tournament. “We gave England tough times in bits and pieces and our overall performances has improved a great deal, which is something the England players also told us. “We have squandered opportunities in this series. Going forward we should look to make the most of the chances we get in the match. This series will help us a lot in learning that.”  Pakistan managed 144 for five in 20 overs. Leg-spinner Sarah Glenn and medium-pacer Anya Shurbsole picked up two wickets each for 12 and 15 runs. For registering two back-to-back half-centuries in the first two T20Is, England wicketkeeper-batter Jones was named player of the series. Scores in brief: England Women 170-3, 20 overs (Heather Knight 43, Amy Jones 37, Fran Wilson 29, Danni Wyatt 25, Tammy Beaumont 23; Diana Baig 2-28) Pakistan Women 144-5, 20 overs (Javeria Khan 57 not out; Sarah Glenn 2-12, Anya Shursole 2-15) Result: England women won by 26 runs

Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD:-Multan, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Abbottabad claimed victories in the ongoing National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) T-20 Blind Cricket Trophy 2019(Grade-2) after beating their respective opponents at Attock Cricket Stadium Attock. Match 1: Multan Vs Quetta: Quetta won the toss and decided to bowl first. Multan batted well and made 256 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in stipulated 20 Overs. Mohammad Safdar was in the form of his life and scored another century, he made unbeaten 179 runs off 74balls. Abdul Razzaq made 48 runs. Quettain in reply, managed to score 204 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Abdul Rasheed made 41 runs not out while Qaisar made 34 runs. Ghulam Akbar took 2 wickets. Shahbaz and Safdar claimed a wicket a piece. Result:Multan won by 52 runs Man of the Match:Muhammad Safdar Match 2: Attock Vs Sargodha: In the morning, Attock won on the toss and decided to bat first. Sargodha bowling didn’t allow Attock batsmen to bat fluently. Their last match hero Ahtesham was bowled cheaply just on 15 runs, Bilal Sarwar played innings of 49 runs maintained their scoring rate. Attock finished at 211 runs on the board for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs. The other prominent scorer was Zeeshan with 32 runs. Abdullah was the pick amongst the bowlers, he took 3 wickets and Tanveer claimed 2 wickets. Sargodha in reply, chased the target in the 17 overs for the loss of 1 wicket. Gul Sheer again shined with the bat, he remained unbeaten on 100 runs off 58 balls. Zain got out after scoring 57 runs. Result: Sargodha won by 9 wickets Man of the Match:Gul Sheer Match 3: Faisalabad vs Sheikhopura: Sheikopura won the toss and decided to bat first. Sheikopura made 204 runs in allotted 20 overs for the loss of 2 wickets. Abdul Sattar played beautifully for his 87 runs off 56 balls while the veteran Ashraf Bhatti made 62 runs off 48 balls.  Usman Ali was the only bowler to claim a wicket for Faisalabad. In reply, Faisalabad chased the target in 13.3 overs for the loss of 1 wicket. Muhammad Ijaz made 75 off 42 balls and Bilal Ali made 71 off 27 balls.   Result: Faisalabad won by 9 wickets Man of the Match:Bilal Ali Match 4. Abbottabad Vs Hyderabad: Hyderabad won the toss and decided to bat first. Hyderabad was bowled out on 122 runs in 14.1 Overs. Obaid Ullah Was their top scorer with 24 runs. Riasat Khan took 3 wickets for 10 runs in his 3 overs. Naeem Ullah picked 2 wickets. Abbottabad in reply, chased the target just on 5.3 overs without any loss. Riasat Khan made 58 runs off 15 balls and Naeem Ullah also made 58 runs off 18 balls. Result: Abbottabd won by 10 wickets Man of the Match:Riasat Khan

SB News Kuala Lumpur( December 19 2019):-Amy Jones’ career-best score of 89 and Danni Wyatt’s 55 set an 84-run win for England Women over Pakistan Women in the second T2oI at Kuala Lumpur’s Kinrara Oval on Thursday. With this victory, England went 2-0 up in the three-match series. The Heather Knight-led side scored an imposing 185 for five after winning the toss thanks to a profound 120-run opening stand by Jones and Wyatt, who was playing her 100th T20I. Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Anam Amin provided the hosts a breakthrough on the second ball of the 12th over with the wicket of Wyatt, who hit eight fours and two sixes in her 36-ball stay at the crease. Danni Wyatt said: “I’m really happy to have made 100 caps. There have been a lot of highs and lows along the way but I’ve enjoyed the journey, and it means a lot to get here. “It’s great batting with Amy and we were happy to get us off to a good start. We’d have liked one of us to go on and get a hundred but it was a decent total. “It’s tricky with the ball when the chase begins to be unlikely, but the bowlers stayed really disciplined and kept their standards high.” Jones, coming into the match at the back of a 53 in the last game, kept the scoreboard ticking at a rapid rate, smashing 11 fours and three sixes, before her dismissal on the penultimate ball of the 17th over. The wicketkeeper-batter stayed on the crease for 52 balls. For her towering batting effort, Jones bagged her second consecutive player of the match award Anam and Nida Dar were the notable performers with the ball with two wickets each for 30 and 33 runs respectively. In their reply, Pakistan lost three wickets in the Powerplay as the scorecard read 31 for three after six overs. Their problems compounded when Pakistan lost Javeria Khan (10 off 16) and Nida Dar (0 off 2) in three balls that left Pakistan reeling at 39 for five in 8.2 overs. With the required run-rate surging every over, Pakistan batters struggled to put up a fight. They managed 101 for nine in 20 overs. With 38 runs from 35 balls, Iram Javed top scored for Pakistan. The right-handed batter hit four sixes and a four. Iram Javed said: “England batters made the most of the conditions after winning the toss. They were able to add 25-30 runs extra on board. We lost some wickets early on in the run-chase which kept us from scoring at a quicker rate. “My aim was to prolong my stay at the crease and stitch partnerships to help the team recover from that position. But, our wickets kept falling on regular intervals.” Sophie Ecclestone was the stand out bowler with two wickets for just five runs in three overs - one of which was a maiden. Katherine Brunt and Mady Villiers also took two wickets, while the rest of the three wickets were shared equally between Natalie Sciver, Freya Davies and Sarah Glenn. The last T20I will be played on Thursday. Scores in brief: England Women 185-5, 20 overs (Amy Jones 89, Danni Wyatt 55; Anam Amin 2-30, Nida Dar 2-33) Pakistan Women 101-9, 20 overs (Iram Javed 38; Sophie Ecclestone 2-5, Katherine Brunt 2-19, Mady Villiers 2-21) Result: England Women won by 84 runs

THE MCC: MCC to tour Pakistan in 2020 SB Report ISLAMABAD:-:It has been confirmed that the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) would be sending a touring squad to Pakistan in 2020. Captained by current MCC President Kumar Sangakkara, the Club will send a team to Lahore in February next year, playing a number of matches in the city.  The concept of a tour to Pakistan has been a long-stated aim of the MCC World Cricket committee, with its Members having expressed an interest in helping Pakistan during the country’s exile from hosting international cricket.  Following an attack on the touring Sri Lanka team’s bus in Lahore in 2009, Pakistan’s home Test matches have been played on neutral territory, until very recently, as a two-Test series between the sides – part of the World Test Championship – began last week. At the MCC World Cricket committee meeting held at Lord’s in August, the WCC re-affirmed their support in seeing touring sides return to Pakistan – with security analysis being a prerequisite – following a presentation and discussion with  Wasim Khan, the Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).  It was agreed that MCC would consider touring Pakistan in the future and following a full investigation into security measures, and assessment into the viability of the trip, the Club can confirm they have accepted an invitation from the PCB to tour in February. Guy Lavender, MCC Chief Executive & Secretary said: “The people of Pakistan have been starved of seeing their team play at home for a decade and it is wonderful to see that Test cricket has recently returned to the country. “As a Club, one of MCC’s priorities is to maintain its global relevance on the game by supporting countries in their provision for cricket, and we are united with the global game in wanting to see international teams returning to play in Pakistan. “Of course the predominant focus has been assessing the relative safety and security considerations, and we are working closely with the PCB to manage a robust security plan to ensure the tour can take place.”  Kumar Sangakkara, MCC President, said: “It is hugely important to support cricket in countries such as Pakistan, and the PCB has done a tremendous job in rebuilding the international cricketing landscape since the tragic events of 2009. “I am excited to be captaining MCC on the tour to Pakistan. With international cricket having returned for the first time in a decade, it is wonderful the Club is doing its part to strengthen cricket in Pakistan and I look forward to being part of the trip.” Wasim Khan, Chief Executive of the PCB said: “Following months of dialogue, and the opportunity to put Pakistan’s compelling case forward to the prestigious and important MCC World Cricket committee, I am delighted that MCC has confirmed that it will send a touring team to Lahore in February.  “The decision by the world’s oldest and most influential cricket club to send a quality team is further testament that Pakistan is as safe and secure a country as any other cricket-playing nation in the world, and MCC’s tour is a further step forward in normalising team tours to Pakistan. “The PCB looks forward to welcoming the MCC cricket team and we fully expect the squad to have a thoroughly enjoyable time.” All of MCC’s matches on the tour will be played at Aitcheson College in Lahore. Guy Lavender will be the Team Manager of the squad, and MCC Head Coach Ajmal Shahzad will coach the group. About Marylebone Cricket Club MCC is the world’s most active cricket club, the owner of Lord’s Ground and the guardian of the Laws and Spirit of the game. Founded in 1787, it is recognised as the sole authority on the game’s Laws and moved to its current home in St John’s Wood in 1814. There are approximately 18,000 Full and 5,000 Associate Members of MCC. About Lord’s Cricket GroundThe first match ever played at ‘Lord’s Cricket Ground’ was in 1787, when businessman Thomas Lord set up a new ground in what was then known as Dorset Fields. Moving twice since then – in 1811 and 1814 – Lord’s Ground has resided at its current location in St John’s Wood for over 200 years. Lord’s has hosted both the Men’s and Women’s ICC Cricket Cup World Finals in 2017 and 2019 respectively, with England crowned World Champions as they played in front of sell-out crowds on each occasion. This summer Lord’s hosted five ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup matches including the Final, which saw England claim victory over New Zealand in a dramatic super over creating sporting history as ‘the greatest cricket match ever played’. Lord’s also staged a historic first Test match between England and Ireland in July, as well as selling out all five days of the England and Australia Test match in August.

Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD:-National Bank of Pakistan T-20 Blind Cricket Trophy (Grade-2) commenced at Attock Cricket Stadium, Attock on Wednesday. Ali Hanan Qamar Deputy Commissioner Attock, Akhtar Munir, Regional Head National Bank of Pakistan, Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman Pakistan Blind Cricket Council inaugurated the event. 1st match of the event was played between Attock and Abbottabad. Attock won the toss and decided to bat first. On wet conditions, batting first after winning the toss was a brave move and as fortune favors the brave so do with Attock. Their openers Ahtesham and Muhammad Bilal flatten the Abbottabad bowling and piled up huge total of 286 runs without any loss in allotted 20 overs. Ahtesham made unbeaten 150 runs off 74 balls and Bilal made 87 runs not out off 60 balls. Abbottabad in reply made only 212 for the loss of 4 wickets.  Riasat Khan remained top scorer with 96 runs. Mohammad Sohail was the only bowler to pick wicket. Result: Attock won by 74 runs Man of the Match: Ahtesham ul Haq Game-2 Quetta won the toss and decided to bowl first. Faisalabad posted 213 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in stipulated 20 Overs. Ijaz Ali was their star with 104 runs off (57 balls) and Bilal Hasan made 38 runs. Abdul Rasheed was the only bowler to claim a wicket. Quetta in reply chased the target in 19th  over of the innings for the loss of 4 wickets.  Nemat Ullah Khan made unbeaten 86 runs and Abdul Rasheed made 49 runs not out. Noman, Sanaullah and Danish Ali claimed a wicket a piece. Result: Quetta won by 6 wickets Man of the Match: Nemat Ullah Khan Game-3: Sargodha won the toss and decided to bowl first. Hyderabad made 180 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in allotted 20 overs. Amjad made 66 runs. Sargodha in reply chased down the target rapidly in just 8 overs without any loss. Gul Sheer’s bat sung wildly and smashed unbeaten 108 runs off just 38 balls. Zain was the other batter to remain unbeaten on 43 runs. Result: Sargodha won by 10 wickets Man of the Match: Gul Sheer Game-4: Multan won the toss and decided to bat first. Multan batsmen smashed 301 runs in stipulated 20 overs for the loss of 3 wickets. Muhammad Safdar played brilliantly and made 115 runs off 40 balls, Hafiz Abdul Razzaq scored 52 runs off 24 balls and Akbar made 61 off 31 balls. Sheikopura in reply made 172 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in stipulated 20 Overs. Iman Ullah was their best scorer with 41 runs.  Abdul Razzaq took 2 wickets while Akbar, Shahbaz and Saleem claimed a wicket each Result: Multan won by 129 runs                Man of the Match: Muhammad Safdar

England beat Pakistan by 29 runs in first T20 Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (December 17, 2019):-Bismah Maroof’s gutsy half-century was in vain as England Women beat Pakistan Women by 29 runs in the first of the three T20Is at Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. The Pakistan captain scored a 58-ball 60, hitting five fours. Pakistan lost both openers in the first five balls of the run chase as the scorecard read one for two at the end of the first over. The problems compounded when they lost two wickets in the last three balls of the Powerplay, which left them reeling at 47 for four. Bismah, over the course of her 11th T2oI half-century, led the rearguard effort by knitting a 46-run partnership with Umaima Sohail, who hit two fours and a six in her 14-ball 21, while her 60-run stand with wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz (22 off 24) brought Pakistan closer to victory. She was the last Pakistan wicket as the hosts were bowled out on 125 in 18.4 overs. England’s Sophie Ecclestone shone with the ball taking three wickets for 21 runs, while the other notable performance came from Freya Davis, who took two wickets at the cost of 18 runs. Reflecting on her innings and the match, Bismah Maroof said: “I was looking to keep the scoreboard ticking by targeting bad balls and rotating the strike. My target was to stay at the crease till the end. “It was a batting-friendly wicket and we missed the trick by not constructing lengthy partnerships. We are doing well in bits and pieces but we are unable to make the most of the chances that we get. “I am backing these girls to bounce back in the next match as this unit has put remarkable performances in the past. This match has given the group the belief that we can chase down targets. There were some lapses in the fielding department today and we will try to cut them in the next two matches.” That England had scored an imposing 154 for four, after being put into bat, was largely due to a blistering 39-ball 53 by wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones. Over the course of her second half-century in the format, Jones, who struck 10 fours, provided a solid foundation. She knitted a 58-run partnership for the second-wicket with Tammy Beaumont (30 off 29) which helped England recover from an early dismissal of Danni Wyatt, who made run-a-ball six, in the fourth over. Speaking about her innings, Amy Jones said: “It's not an easy pitch to score quickly on, and I think the opening few overs are probably the best time to bat. “Pakistan were disciplined with the ball and they didn't make it easy so I think we did well to get up to 160, but we perhaps would have liked a few more. “The wickets in Australia at the World Cup won't be too similar to this but the important skill is adapting and hopefully adapting to these wickets will stand us in good stead for the World Cup.” The partnership was broken by 15-year-old debutant Aroob Shah. The leg-spinner accounted for Jones’ wicket in the 11th over and was the most-economical bowler from her side with 13 dot balls in four overs. She returned one for 21. For her exploits with the bat, Jones was named player of the match. Middle-order batters Natalie Sciver and Heather Knight made the most of the platform provided by Jones. Sciver made an unbeaten 29-ball 34 – hitting a six and a four – while Knight facing five deliveries of the final over of the England innings cracked three fours on her way to 13 not out. All-rounder Nida Dar was the successful bowler for Pakistan with two wickets for 30 runs in four overs. The second T20I will be played on Thursday. Scores in brief: England Women 154-4, 20 overs (Amy Jones 53, Natalie Sciver 34 not out, Tammy Beaumont 30; Nida Dar 2-30) Pakistan Women 125 all-out, 18.4 overs (Bismah Maroof 60, Sidra Nawaz 22, Umaima Sohail 21; Sophie Ecclestone 3-21, Natalie Sciver 2-12, Freya Davis 2-18) Result: England Women won by 29 runs

By Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-NBP T-20 Blind Cricket Trophy 2019 Grade II will start from Monday (December 18, 2019) and Grade I from December 25 in two different cities Attock and Bahawalpur respectively. According to an official, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) is organizing National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Twenty 20 Blind Cricket Trophy 2019 Grade I and Grade II, which will be held in Bahawalpur and Attock separately from December 25 to 29 and December 18 to 22 respectively. Sports In-charge NBP Iqbal Qasim, SVP/DH CSRD NBP Iqbal Wahid, AVP CSRD NBP Asif Ahmed Khan and Director Marketing PBCC Syed Salman Bokhari, Wing Head Media publication NBP Ibne Hasan and Director Information and Coordination Asif Azeem addressed the media at a local hotel on Monday. Jehangir Manager (CSRD) NBP and Junaid Iqbal Officer (CSRD) NBP were also present on the occasion. On this occasion former Test cricketer Iqbal Qasim said that cricket was the most celebrated game in Pakistan. "Blind cricket in Pakistan has been recording phenomenal achievements after winning two Cricket World Cups and numerous international bilateral series, "he added. Meanwhile, Iqbal Wahid said that NBP had been very much interested in promotion of sports in Pakistan and been funding the game development at grass-root levels. “NBP is sponsoring T20 Blind Cricket Trophy for last 10 years and will continue its support in future too,” he said. Syed Salman Bokhari thanked NBP on sponsoring one event of blind cricket once in a calendar year and said that this initiative helped in the promotion of cricket for the blind across the country and this is reckoned as the largest domestic event of blind cricket as 16 teams are participating in the event.He informed that Grade-2 champion will be promoted to Grade-1 while last team on points table in Grade-1 will be relegated to Grade-2. At the end of the press briefing, the officials of NBP presented a sponsorship cheque Rs1.1 million for the two Grade I and II events.

Pakistan v England Women’s T20Is begin on Tuesday Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (December 16, 2019):-After the conclusion of the ICC Women’s Championship ODI series, the focus has now shifted to the shorter format of the game with Pakistan Women and England Women locking horns in three T20Is at Kinrara Oval in Malaysia from Tuesday. With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia just two months away, the series provides both the teams an opportunity to iron out their permutations and combinations. After having won the ODI series comprehensively, England will enter the series with their tails up. Despite having lost a three-match T20I series at home against Australia Women 2-1, England, ranked second in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, have had an impressive 2019 – winning eight of the 10 matches. The Heather Knight-led side registered sweeps over India Women and Sri Lanka Women earlier in the year, before beating West Indies Women 1-0 at home. Pakistan, having made three changes in their squad from the one that played the three one-dayers, will hope that the change in format also brings a change in their fortunes while taking inspiration from their 3-0 series win at home against Bangladesh Women in October. The Bismah Maroof-led team, seventh in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, have won six of their 11 matches this year and enter the series after securing a 3-0 whitewash against Bangladesh. Pakistan started off the year by losing to the West Indies women in Karachi 2-1 – the second match of the series was won by the West Indies in the Super Over. In their second series of the year, they were beaten by South Africa women 3-2 in a five-T20I series. Pakistan and England have come face-to-face in the format on 10 occasions in which England came out victorious nine times, while Pakistan won the 2013 encounter at Loughborough. Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof said: “This series provides us a good opportunity to prepare for the T20 World Cup next year. England are a quality side and we enter this series at the back of a decent run in T2oIs this year. So, this will be an exciting series. “We are looking to end this year on a high after whitewashing Bangladesh in Lahore as it will help us carry momentum to Australia. “There are three changes in the line-up from the one that played the ODI series. This will help us to have a look at all the players in contention for the T20 World Cup next year.” England captain Heather Knight said: “Pakistan are a much-improved side from when we played them in 2016. It is great for the game to see them improve, but we’ve got a job to do and these T20Is are important preparation for the T20 World Cup. “There were some positives to take from the ODI series. Sarah Glenn bowled well and a lot of the batters stood up and got big scores. “There’s definitely stuff to improve on and we want to keep getting better, plus everyone is fighting to get into the World Cup team so there’s a lot to look forward to over this series.” Squad (Pakistan Women): Bismah Maroof (captain), Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Aroob Shah, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Irum Javed, Javeria Khan, Nahida Khan, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal and Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) Squad (England Women): Heather Knight (captain), Amy Jones (wicketkeeper), Anya Shrubsole, Danni Wyatt, Fran Wilson, Freya Davies, Kate Cross, Katherine Brunt, Kirstie Gordon, Lauren Winfield, Mady Villiers, Nat Sciver, Sarah Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone and Tammy Beaumont Schedule 17 Dec - First T20I, Kinrara Oval. On-field umpires: Ghaffar Kazmi and Khalid Mahmood Sr., Reserve umpire: Kalidas Visvanadan. Match referee: Mohammad Javed 19 Dec - Second T20I, Kinrara Oval. On-field umpires: Ghaffar Kazmi and Khalid Mahmood Sr., Reserve umpire: Kalidas Visvanadan. Match referee: Mohammad Javed 20 Dec - Third T20I, Kinrara Oval. On-field umpires: Ghaffar Kazmi and Khalid Mahmood Sr., Reserve umpire: Kalidas Visvanadan. Match referee: Mohammad Javed

Pakistan stars keen to play their first Test in Karachi Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD (December 16, 2019):-After having played their first Test on Pakistani soil, the national men’s team cannot wait for the second and final Test against Sri Lanka which will be played at the iconic National Stadium in Karachi. Pakistan have enjoyed a phenomenal record in Test cricket here which earned the stadium a nickname of being ‘Pakistan’s fortress in Test cricket’. They have won 21 out of 41 Tests here with only two resulting in defeats for them. With the first match ending in a draw and the upcoming Test providing Pakistan a chance to win the first Test series in the country in more than a decade and bag some crucial ICC World Test Championship points, their captain Azhar Ali is eager to lead the side at the historic venue. Azhar Ali said: “Pakistan have had an excellent record in Test cricket at the National Stadium and I can’t wait for the toss. The whole team is excited for the match.” Growing up in Karachi, opening batsman Shan Masood has had ample opportunities to play first-class cricket at the iconic stadium. The 30-year-old is eager to open the innings for Pakistan in a Test match there. Shan Masood said: “Growing up we have seen some of the best cricketing action at the National Stadium which developed my interest in the game. I remember missing my school to watch a 1996 World Cup match between Pakistan and South Africa in which Aamir Sohail scored a century. Then there was an India-Pakistan match in which Rajesh Chauhan struck a six. That match went into the final over.” Asad Shafiq, who boasts the record of most number of Test centuries at number six, is another player in the side who is well-aware of the conditions that the National Stadium offers in red-ball cricket. The Karachi-born has been on both sides of the fence. Asad Shafiq said: “I was screaming at the top of my lungs in the crowd when [Mohammad] Asif bhai got the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar at the National Stadium in a Test match. I had sore throat after the match. Asif bhai bowled an exceptional spell that day. It is a memory that I still cherish.” After having stamped his authority in white-ball cricket, Babar Azam has put up imposing performances in Tests and celebrated the return of the game’s pinnacle format with a century on the final day of Rawalpindi Test on Sunday. Babar Azam said: “I am very excited that we are playing the second Test in Karachi. I can’t wait to bat in Test whites at the National Stadium’s wicket after having played T20Is and ODIs there. I am hopeful that our batsmen and bowlers will perform to the fullest and make the series memorable by winning the last Test. “I request Karachiites to turn out in large numbers and support the return of Test cricket to the city.” It was Fawad Alam’s talismanic performances at the National Stadium in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this year which led to a call-up to the National Stadium. The middle-order batsman scored three centuries –including 211 for Sindh against Southern Punjab – and a half-century in four matches. Fawad Alam said: “It is certainly a step in the right direction that Test cricket is returning to Karachi. The people of Karachi will come out in large numbers to support both teams, which will inspire younger cricketer to take up the game.” Over the years, Karachi has become almost like a home for Mohammad Rizwan as he represents Karachi Kings in HBL PSL. The wicketkeeper-batsman hopes that he will be able to entertain cricket fans with his glove-work and batting in the second Test. Mohammad Rizwan said: “Karachi has become my city as I have been playing for Karachi Kings. I am very happy that Test cricket is returning here. I am looking forward to grabbing this opportunity and living up to the expectations that Pakistan cricket fans have from me.” The second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka begins Thursday (19 December).