Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: South Africa bounced back from an opening-day defeat with a 65-run win over New Zealand in their second game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. The tournament hosts hit 132 for six after a difficult start in Paarl, rallying thanks to totals of 40 from Chloe Tryon and 28 not out from Nadine de Klerk. They followed that up with a devastating performance with the ball, with skipper Sophie Devine top-scoring with just 16 as Nonkululeko Mlaba starred, taking three wickets for ten runs to wrap up the win. South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, but it was New Zealand who struck the first blow of the match. Eden Carson dismissed Tazmin Brits leg before wicket after just four balls for just one, leaving the hosts four for one at the end of the first over. Marizanne Kapp, promoted up the order to ensure she got the best out of her batting partners, was the next to go. Her airborne shot handed Jess Kerr the first catch of the day from Lea Tahuhu's bowling, leaving the hosts 13 for two midway through the third over. The White Ferns thought they had a third wicket during the fourth over, but Sune Luus got a reprieve when the ball was deemed to have dropped short of wicket-keeper Bernadine Bezuidenhout. However, despite the difficult start, South Africa responded with a partnership between Laura Wolvaardt and Luus. Just as Wolvaardt and Luus' partnership was beginning to build, the captain was run out for 22 by Bezuidenhout after a miscommunication. Tryon took the hosts to 55 for three after eight overs before Tahuhu bowled Wolvaardt (13) with a superb delivery. All-rounder Tryon began showing off her power with the bat, hitting a fantastic four to take her side to 76 for four. Delmi Tucker and Tryon's partnership was proving fruitful, adding 23 runs from 22 balls, but the former was dismissed after attempting a premeditated ramp shot from Carson's delivery midway through the 13th over. Tryon continued to build South Africa's score, taking her team to 125 before she was dismissed off the final ball of the penultimate over. She was eventually caught by Bezuidenhout off the bowling of Hayley Jensen, having hit 40 off 34 balls. De Klerk ended unbeaten on 28 from 26 deliveries, leaving South Africa with 132 for six, a very respectable total after a difficult start. That total looked even more impressive when the White Ferns also struggled with the bat early on. Bezuidenhout was stumped for a duck by Sinalo Jafta after just two deliveries from Mlaba. The opening bowler then added another victim, dismissing Suzie Bates for another duck with a fine delivery at the start of the third over. That meant New Zealand's openers had not scored a run in their first two matches of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. South Africa continued their impressive start with the ball, Georgia Plimmer caught by Jafta for seven off Kapp to leave the White Ferns with 13 for three after four overs. And things went from bad to worse, with Amelia Kerr caught by Jafta for ten as they slumped to 18 for four. Tryon then entered the attack, bowling for the first time in the tournament, and she had Maddy Green caught by Jafta for seven. New Zealand were in big trouble at 34 for five, with ten overs to play. Devine and Jensen tried to rebuild for the White Ferns, but the game was starting to slip away from them. Then a brilliant bit of fielding from Ayabonga Khaka saw Jensen run out for seven to leave New Zealand 47 for six. And it was 49 for seven shortly after when Devine's wicket finally fell, falling leg before off Tryon having hit 16 off 26 balls. Mlaba then trapped Tahuhu in front to take her wicket tally for the evening to three for eight, her best ever in a T20 international. Shabnim Ismail took a wicket of her own, bowling Jess Kerr for 11 with just under three overs remaining. And New Zealand could not go the distance, all out for a lowest-ever total in the tournament of 67 as Kapp dismissed Fran Jonas for one. Scores in brief South Africa 132 for six in 20 overs (Chloe Tryon 40, Nadine De Klerk 28; Eden Carson 2/23, Lea Tahuhu 2/27) New Zealand 67 all out in 18.1 overs (Sophie Devine 16, Jess Kerr 11; Nonkululeko Mlaba 3/10, Chloe Tryon 2/12) Player of the Match: Chloe Tryon (South Africa)

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD: Islamabad PD trounced Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) PD by 8 wickets and Abbottabad PD outplayed Rawalpindi PD by 5 wickets in the 8th National Physical Disability T20 Cricket Championship 2023 at Bhutto cricket ground here on Monday. Also, the winners confirmed their berths in Round II. In the first game of the day, Islamabad PD easily ousted AJK PD by 8 wickets. AJK batted first and in 18.4 overs the entire team was bundled out for 90 runs. Ahmed Majeed was outstanding by scoring 26 runs. Sajjad Hussain, Sakhid Khan and Waqif Shah took two wickets each. Captain and wicket keeper Usman Paracha hunted 3 players behind the wickets. In response, Islamabad achieved the required target of 92 runs for 2 wickets in 12 overs. Captain Usman Paracha hit 4 fours and made 32 runs not out. Adil Abbasi scored 23 runs and Usman Ghani scored 21 runs. Usman Pracha was judged best player of the match on his sparking performance with the bat and that was key in his team’s victory. At the end of the match, chief guest, Deputy Director of Navy, Khaleeq Khan, gave a cash award of 1000 rupees along with “Man of the Match” trophy to Usman Pracha. General Secretary Pakistan Physical Disable Crocket Association (PPDCA) and Tournament Director Amiruddin Ansari, Regional Head Raja Mohammad Tahir and Javed Ashraf were also present on this occasion. Later, in the second fixture of the day, Abbottabad PD beat Rawalpindi PD by 5 wickets and qualified for the next stage. Rawalpindi PD batted first and scored 145 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Bilal Azim scored 49 runs with the help of 5 fours and one six while batting well while Mohammad Arsalan also scored 40 runs with the help of 5 fours and one six. Aftab Hussain bowled well and got 4 wickets for just 11 runs. In reply, Abbottabad PD reached at the target after scoring 149 runs for 5 wickets. All-rounder Aftab Hussain hit 6 fours in a brilliant half-century of 51 runs, Rizwanullah smashed 3 fours and a six in 44 runs not out. Qayyum Khan took 3 wickets. At the end of the match, Regional Head Javed Ashraf gave Aftab Hussain a cash award of Rs. 1000. In the second phase on Tuesday, Lahore will face Abbottabad at 9 am, while Islamabad will face Peshawar at 1:30 pm at the same venue.

Sports Bulletin Report Cape Town (South Africa): Sri Lanka claimed a famous three-run victory over hosts South Africa at Newlands on opening night of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. Captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front with a wonderful 68 from 50 balls, her nation’s highest-ever individual score at the showpiece tournament. Having set South Africa 130 to win, Athapaththu’s spinners took control with guile and discipline to secure a first T20I victory over the Proteas since 2016. Sri Lanka made a slow start, eking four runs out of the first three overs, but Athapaththu soon hit her stride and carved back-to-back fours off Nonkululeko Mlaba. Opener Harshitha Samarawickrama was far less fluent and her struggles came to an end when she chipped Nadine de Klerk to midwicket to depart for eight from 20 balls. Now joined by 17-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne, Athapaththu didn’t take a backward step and took De Klerk for five boundaries in nine balls. Vishmi took time to settle but matched her skipper’s stroke play, lap-sweeping Mlaba to the rope and then hacking Shabnim Ismail for three fours in an over on her return to the attack. Athapaththu and Vishmi put on 86 for the second wicket, Sri Lanka’s highest partnership for any wicket at the T20 World Cup, but they departed abruptly in successive balls. Vishmi took a single to short cover that wasn’t there, run out by Tazmin Brits for 35, before Athapaththu perished to long leg for a superb 68 to leave her side on 114 for three. Ismail yorked Nilakshi de Silva in the penultimate over to slow Sri Lanka right down and Marizanne Kapp conceded only five from the last as South Africa were set 130 to win. The hosts made a steady start, stymied when Tazmin Brits was struck on the helmet by the fifth ball of the reply, twice passing concussion tests from team doctors. Off-spinner Oshadi Ranasinghe joined up four dot balls in the penultimate powerplay over and Brits found extra cover to depart for 12. Marizanne Kapp offered stability but Sri Lanka claimed the Proteas’ prize scalp in the eight over when she holed out to Nilakshi de Silva at long leg off Inoka Ranaweera, dismissed for 11 at 44 for one. Ranaweera struck again and the South African slide continued when Laura Wolvaardt top-edged a sweep onto her shoulder, pouched by Ranasinghe to go for 18. Chloe Tryon curbed her natural attacking instincts early on and chose the wrong ball to climb into, mistiming a leg-side slog and De Silva was steady under the catch once again. Left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari struck once more in the same over when Anneke Bosch dragged on, leaving South Africa in disarray at 72 for five. Proteas captain Sune Luus was left standing amid the wreckage and as the required rate climbed north of 10, she launched Ranasinghe over the long-on boundary. Two balls later De Klerk tried the same but could only find the grasp of that fielder De Silva again, the hosts with it all to do at 95 for six. The superb Ranaweera got the crucial wicket in the penultimate over, enticing Luus out of her crease for Anushka Sanjeewani to whip off the bails. Sinalo Jafta and Ismail were both run out in the closing stages to sink South African hopes. Scores in brief Sri Lanka beat South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town by three runs Sri Lanka 129 for four in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 68, Vishmi Gunaratne 35; Nadine De Klerk 1/38, Marizanne Kapp 1/15) South Africa 126 for nine in 20 overs (Sune Luus 28, Laura Wolvaardt 18; Inoka Ranaweera 3/18, Oshadi Ranasinghe 2/20) Player of the Match: Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Ireland pulled off a shock win over reigning champions Australia in a topsy-turvy day of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches at Stellenbosch University. Ireland pull off surprise Orla Prendergast put on a fine all-round display as Ireland chased down 169 runs to defeat Australia by three wickets to head into the World Cup on a high. The right-arm medium-pacer dismissed opener Beth Mooney for a first-ball duck on her way to figures of two for 19 from her four overs. Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath then combined for a 135-run stand which ended with McGrath retiring on 56 to give other batters time in the middle, with Healy following suit having reached 62. Ellyse Perry’s 40 not out from 20 balls steered Australia to 168 for three, which Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis gave Ireland a fast start in chasing down, putting on 39 runs in 3.5 overs. Lewis’s dismissal brought Prendergast to the crease whose 26 from 15 runs gave Ireland fresh impetus before Laura Delany’s top score of 32 helped to see Ireland home with two balls to spare. England go two from two England went undefeated from their two warm-up matches with a five-wicket win over New Zealand. Players of England and New Zealand shake hands following a warm-up match between England and New Zealand prior to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup South Africa 2023 at Western Province Cricket Club on February 08, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. Players of England and New Zealand shake hands following a warm-up match between England and New Zealand prior to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup South Africa 2023 at Western Province Cricket Club on February 08, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. Having been put in to bat, Suzie Bates led New Zealand’s charge with 36 runs from 35 balls, but the veteran struggled to build a partnership after the returning Sophie Devine was dismissed with the White Ferns on 33 for one. Sophie Ecclestone took three wickets for 19 to limit New Zealand to 114 for nine from their 20 overs, which proved no match for England. Sophia Dunkley crashed 60 runs from 38 balls to bat through the innings as England chased down their target in 13.5 overs. Alice Capsey impressed with 28 runs as she continued to prove her fitness after undergoing surgery on her broken collarbone in December. South Africa head to opener with a win South Africa will open the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with a win under their belt as they defeated Pakistan by six wickets. After winning the toss, Aliya Riaz was the star of the show for Pakistan making 48 from 30 balls as her side set hosts South Africa 143 to win. Ayesha Naseem provided useful runs late on as she scored 21 runs from 12 balls before she was dismissed by Ayabonga Khaka who took two for 23. Fresh from moving up to second in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s Rankings for T20I Bowlers, Nonkululeko Mlaba took one for 16 from her four overs. Laura Wolvaardt headlined South Africa’s response making 65 in an 107-run opening partnership with Tazmin Brits. Brits went on to make 36, before a mini-collapse left South Africa on 116 for four as Anneke Bosch and Sune Luus both fell for three runs. Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk guided the Proteas home with 10 balls to spare to send South Africa to Newlands in a buoyant mood. West Indies secure narrow victory The West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets with just two balls to spare in a see-sawing low-scoring thriller. Sri Lanka stuttered on their way to posting 107 all out from their 20 overs, with only Nilakshi Silva able to deliver with the bat. Silva arrived with Sri Lanka two for 29 after 5.2 overs, scoring 29 off 26 balls to help steer her side to a modest total. Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kaveesha Dilhari each made 16 but seven scores under double figures, including for captain Chamari Athapaththu, continued to halt their progress. After taking three for 17 with the ball, captain Hayley Matthews gave the West Indies the perfect batting platform with a fifty before she was run out by some brilliant glovework from Anushka Sanjeewani. The Windies then slipped to five for 76 before Chinelle Henry steered her side home alongside Afy Fletcher. Ghosh stars in India’s triumph Richa Ghosh scored the highest innings of the warm-ups with a fabulous 91 not out from 56 balls crunching three fours and nine sixes to set India up for a 52-run victory over Bangladesh. The wicket-keeper batter put on 92 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues who made 41 from 27 before being dismissed by Jahanara Alam. Alam was expensive in her four overs, going for 54 as she faced the brunt of Ghosh’s hitting as India reach 183 for five. In reply, Bangladesh put up a good fight, thanks in part to captain Nigar Sultana’s 40 from 36 balls, but their tail wagged in the face of fierce bowling from India. Murshida Khatun had got Bangladesh off on a strong note as she made a run-a-ball 32 before Devika Vaidya took two for 21. Bangladesh fell 52 runs short in their chase, ending on 131 for eight from their 20 runs but showed improvement from their opening loss to Pakistan.  

Bipin Dani Nepal's 22-year-old bowler Sandeep Lamichhane who has been granted a bail by the Court in Nepal in the alleged rape case is gaining support from the international cricketers. This was revealed by Chatur Bahadur Chand, the president of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Kathmandu, he said, "Yes, Sandeep is gaining motivational calls from the players. Last weekend, Pakistani wicket-keeper / batter Mohammad Rizwan paid a flying visit and met Sandeep. Rizwan was in Bangladesh playing the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He came to Nepal for a few hours and tried to motivate the bowler. Possibly, for this personal visit he may have obtained the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) permission and he returned to Bangladesh for his remaining matches". Rizwan also met the CAN president.  One among the others, who have wished Sandeep to be strong in this difficult time is India's Dinesh Karthik. "We hear Dinesh Karthik has sent a message to our new coach Monty Desai for Sandeep. Karthik is keen to come to Nepal and motivate him", the CAN president added. Karthik's visit may not materialize soon as he is the commentary panel for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Sandeep is now on bail and has joined the 20-member squad (reduced from originally 30) for the closed-door training. "He is staying with the other team members in the hotel", confirmed Chand. His family, however, wanted him the permission to join the training from home daily. Sandeep's case is likely to come up for hearing in the next few months, confirmed his lawyer Saroj K. Ghimire, who tried hard to get his client's bail. "Sandeep is not yet given permission to travel overseas with the team but hopefully, we will try to get this clearance also", the lawyer, speaking exclusively, said. "Sandeep attended a few psychological sessions from the country's top psychologist Sushma Regmi", the lawyer confirmed.

Sports Bulletin Report FAISALABAD: Baluchistan have clinched the title of the A S Ali Blind Cricket Super League 2023 after defeating Punjab by six runs in the final at Bohranwali Cricket Ground Faisalabad on Wednesday. Punjab won the toss and decided to bowl first. Baluchistan were bowled out on 471 runs in 39.5 overs. Faisal Mehmood played a marvelous innings of 165 runs (off 84 balls) and he was well supported by Shahzaib Haider, who got out after scoring 143 runs (off 96 balls). Badar Muneer, Ayyaz and Mehtab claimed 2 wickets each for Punjab. In reply, Punjab started the chase briskly but at the end fell 6 runs short of the target. Punjab’s team was bowled out on 465 in 39.4 overs. Badar Muneer was their highest scorer with 148 runs (off 68 balls) and Mohammad Safdar made 95 runs (off 59 balls). Irfan took 2 wickets while Shahzeb Haider and Junaid fetched 1 wicket each for Balochistan. Result: Balochistan won by 6 runs Man of the Match: Faisal Mehmood Players’ awards of the Tournament: B1: Riasat Khan (Sindh) B2: Badar Muneer (Punjab) B3: Mati Ullah (KPK) Best Wicket Keeper: Nisar Ali (Islambad-AJK) Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman Pakistan Blind Cricket Council & President World Blind Cricket Ltd, Tariq Niazi, Additional Commissioner, Faisalabad, Abid Hussain, ADCG Faisalabad, Rana Hammad Iqbal Regional Sports Officer (RSO) Faisalabad and Abdul Sattar D O Special Education Faisalabad were the guests of the occasion and distributed prizes amongst the players.   

Bipin Dani Pakistan's Shoaib Mohammad is happy to welcome Windies' pair of father and son- Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Tagenarine Chanderpaul-in his company to have registered double hundreds in Test cricket. Tagenarine Chanderpaul double hundred came in his only third Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Monday.  Shoaib Mohammad and his late father, Hanif Mohammad had held this record for 32 long years. Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Karachi, Shoaib Mohammad said, "I am proud to have held this record for so many years. It was a pity that this had not been widely reported for so many years. More so, because this had happened twice. Both me and my father had scored double hundreds twice". "We are glad that this topic has now surfaced because of the Chandrapaul family and now people know that there was some other pair also having emulated this feat. My congratulations to both father and son having made this unique feat". "I think more than 25 father-son duo have played Test cricket for their respective countries. There are iconic names in the list but either father failed to score a double hundred or his son". There have been instances of father-son duo who have scored centuries. "We are superior to them because we have scored double hundreds".  "Sadly, my father is not around at this point of time as he passed away a few years ago. He is not there in the company of the four but I am sure he would also have been very happy to know some other pair is also in the company. My late father also believed that the records are always meant to be broken". "It is a good feeling and the Windies batters would also feel the same. This unique feat makes us proud, makes our family proud and makes our nation proud".   

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (UAE): The ICC has today revealed the names shortlisted for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for January 2023 following a blockbuster month of cricket which included a host of bilateral cricket across the globe, and the thrilling climax of the first-ever ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. ICC Women's Player of the Month nominees for January 2023 Phoebe Litchfield (Australia) After making her international debut in December, 19-year-old Litchfield has made a fast start to 2023, with confident knocks at the top of the order in Australia’s ODI series victory against Pakistan. In a dream ODI debut, the teenager top scored for the hosts with 78 not out to win the first match and claim the Player of the Match award. The second tie saw much of the same, an unbeaten 67 and a superb partnership with Beth Mooney helped Litchfield and her teammates claim a 10-wicket win and the series victory. Beth Mooney (Australia) Mooney has for so long been a reliable performer in the colours of Australia, and the nominee for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in the ICC Awards 2022 picked up where she left off in January. The opener starred in the ODI series against Pakistan, picking up the Player of the Series award despite a slow start to the month. She secured the series win with a fine unbeaten half-century in the second ODI in Brisbane before smashing 133 in the final showdown, resulting in a 101-run victory. Not content with that, The Australian icon scored a further half-century in the subsequent T20I series against the tourists, reinforcing the threat she carries heading into the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which starts in a three days’ time. Grace Scrivens (England) The ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup ended with a flourish, and also set the platform for several young stars to establish themselves on the world stage. One of the shining lights from the tournament was England captain Grace Scrivens, whose leadership skills and individual brilliance took her side all the way to the Final of the inaugural edition. With the bat, she scored three successive half-centuries in victories against Rwanda, Ireland and West Indies and with ball in hand she took nine valuable wickets throughout the tournament at an average of 7.11, earning her the Player of the Tournament award. ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for January: Devon Conway (New Zealand) Conway has become a multi-format talisman for New Zealand in recent years, and he started 2023 in similar style. The opener, who was the ICC Men’s Player of the Month back in June 2021, scored almost 500 runs during the period, with centuries in Test cricket and ODI cricket against strong opposition. Karachi saw Conway’s first and second centuries of the month – a fine 122 not out in the dramatic second Test against Pakistan was followed up with a gritty 101 in a convincing ODI win on a tricky pitch. The opener then carried this form into the series against India, where he ended the month with a brisk 138 from 100 balls where he provided strong resistance against an impressive India bowling attack. Shubman Gill (India) Another talented youngster named among the nominees for Men’s Player of the Month, Gill secures his first nomination for the award on the back of a superb month, most notably in ODI cricket. Scoring 567 ODI runs during the period at an astonishing average of 113.40, his entertaining and powerful strokeplay saw him hit three-figures on three occasions. In a month full of highlights, arguably his best outing was a glittering 208 not out in the series opener against New Zealand in Hyderabad, coming in just 149 balls with 28 boundaries. As well as his successful ODI exploits, Gill churned out 76 runs in T20I cricket during the month. Mohammed Siraj (India) Siraj’s rise to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI bowler rankings has been nothing short of meteoric. Having only made one appearance in ODI’s before last year, Siraj has been a constant performer in the past 12 months, earning him a spot in the recently announced ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year for 2022, and now finds himself at the top of the rankings after another excellent month. Siraj played in 5 ODIs during January, against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, taking 14 wickets at a remarkable average of 10.57 which included back-to-back four-wicket hauls against the two touring sides.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Punjab and Baluchistan stormed into the final of A S Ali Blind Cricket Super League 2023 after winning their respective matches at two different venues of Faisalabad on Tuesday. Baluchistan beat Islamabad-AJK by 7 wickets Venue: Cricket Ground of Sports Complex Chak No 8 Faisalabad The 9th Match of the event was played between Balochistan and Islamabad-AJK. In the morning Balochistan won the toss and asked KPK to take guard. Islamabad-AJK posted a competitive total of 379 runs on the board for the loss of 6 wickets in allotted 40 overs. Haroon Khan played a brilliant innings of 117 runs (off 76 balls) and Mohammad Akram the veteran batsman scored 66 runs (off 59 balls). Shahzeb Haider, M Adeel and M Asif shared a wicket each. In Reply, Balochistan reached the target in 40th over of the inning for the loss of 3 wickets. Moeen Aslam played a marvelous innings of unbeaten 251* runs (off 139 balls) helping his side to beat Islamabad by 7 wickets. Mohammad Ejaz made 46 runs (off 43 balls).  Mohammad Akram claimed 1 wicket for Islamabad. Result: Balochistan won by 7 wickets Man of the Match: Moain Aslam Sindh beat KPK by 5 wickets   Venue: Boranwali Cricket Ground Faisalabad The 10th match of the tournament played between Sindh and KPK. Sindh won the toss and asked KPK to bat first. KPK’s Mati Ullah once again shined with the bat and played superb innings of unbeaten 188* runs (off 126 balls). He was well supported by Ayoub Khan, he made 65 runs (off 47 balls). KPK piled up 390 runs on the board for the loss of 8 wickets. Kamran, Idrees and Yasir took 1 wicket each for Sindh. Sindh in reply chased down the target of 391 runs in 37.5 overs for the loss of 5 wickets. Mohsin Khan played an outstanding innings of unbeaten 191* runs (off 106 balls) and Kamran chipped in with 50 runs (off 35 balls). Ehtisham ul Haq and Abdul Manan claimed 2 wickets each. Result: Sindh won by 5 Wickets Man of the Match: Mohsin Khan

Bipin Dani Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) national selectors are awaiting an invitation to select red and white ball teams for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand where two Test matches and three ODIs and three T-20I are to be played. "We have not yet sent them the invitation to meet and select the team", one of the sources confirmed. "Hopefully, the squad will be selected after the completion of the 2nd unofficial 4-day Test against the visiting England Lions", the source added. "We are awaiting the sports ministry's advice on the selection committee. If no change in the committee is notified the same selectors will be sent the invitation by the SLC to pick the players. Even if the selectors are changed at a later date, they (new selectors) will have the liberty to make the changes", the source also clarified. The SLC has, however, applied for the visas of the players who are cetaintities, it is learnt. Romesh Kaluwitharana will be the selector on tour. "Hemantha Wickramratne toured with the Asia Cup team in the UAE and India. Will have decided to send Kalu", the source added. All three selectors will watch the respective matches in Galle (2nd unofficial Test, Hambantota and Colombo (National Super League).  The players are scheduled to have training from February 17 and as first reported, it will be held at Radella Cricket Ground.