Cricket - Women
Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier: Sri Lanka and Ireland claim wins
Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Sri Lanka overcame Thailand while Ireland defeated the hosts, United Arab Emirates (UAE), both winners recorded convincing victories over their opponents in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier began in Abu Dhabi today (Thursday).Ireland beat UAE by 6 Wickets: Esha Oza got UAE off to a flier with an onslaught on Alana Dalzell in the second over of the game, but the bowler had the last laugh when she sent the opener back off the final ball of the over.Theertha Satish and Khushi Sharma rebuilt the innings for UAE with a solid partnership that came at a pretty good rate, but Ireland launched a spirited comeback into the game that saw the UAE innings unravel pretty quickly.From 64/1, UAE slipped to 77/7 in the space of five overs as Arlene Kelly, Cara Murray and Richardson shared the spoils. The talented Kavisha Egodage was run out to add to UAE’s woes.The lower order could not muster much of a fight as UAE finished on 105/9 in 20 overs, despite the promising start they had to the innings. Kelly and Richardson claimed two wickets apiece and were the pick of Ireland’s bowlers.In response, Ireland raced off the blocks with Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis in great touch. The duo smashed 52 in the Powerplay, before Lewis departed off the final ball of the sixth over, edging Egodage to the wicketkeeper for a 22-ball 27. Oza struck in successive overs with the big wickets of Laura Delany and Rebecca Stokell as Ireland stumbled to 68/4.Orla Prendergast found able support from Richardson and Ireland kept the innings stable. The duo remained unbeaten and wiped off the target with more than three overs to spare as Ireland got their campaign off to a winning start.Sri Lanka beat Thailand by 67 runs: A disciplined bowling performance from Thailand restricted one of the favourites in the tournament, Sri Lanka, to 122/5 in 20 overs at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi.Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to a slow start in the Powerplay with captain, Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne taking their time to settle in. Chanida Sutthiruang sent back Gunaratne for 13 inside the Powerplay, but the big blow came right after the restrictions when Athapaththu was run out by a brilliant bit of fielding.Hasini Perera dropped anchor at one end, but Thailand managed to find a couple of breakthroughs from the other end to keep the scoring rate under control. Eventually, Perera too was trapped in front by Sunida Chaturongrattana for 29 and Sri Lanka slipped to a precarious 78/5 with just over five overs remaining in the innings. Nilakshi de Silva and Anushka Sanjeewani joined hands in a crucial stand that drove Sri Lanka out of the woods. De Silva finished unbeaten for 29 (20 balls), while Anushka made 13 off 15 as Sri Lanka finished on 122/5.In response, Udeshika Prabodhani and Inoshi Priyadharshani led Sri Lanka’s bowling effort with only one batter making double digits. While Thailand got off to a decent start with 29 runs on the board in the Powerplay for the loss of one, wickets tumbled soon after as Sri Lanka displayed their strength with the ball.Prabhodhani, Kavisha Dilhari and Achini Kulasuriya helped Sri Lanka reduce Thailand to 40/5 and things went further downhill for Thailand as three wickets fell in the 14th over, bowled by Priyadharshani. They slipped to 45/8 and were eventually bowled out for 55 with Athapaththu wrapping up the innings with the final wicket. Priyadharshani starred with 3 for 14 in her four overs while Prabodhani took 2 for 10 in her three overs.
Former Captain Bismah Maroof announces retirement from cricket
Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Former captain Bismah Maroof has announced her retirement from all cricket with immediate effect. A left-handed batswoman, Bismah made her ODI debut against India in 2006 and her T20I debut against Ireland in 2009. She went on to represent Pakistan in 276 international matches, the most by any Pakistan women cricketer. She has scored 6,262 international runs, including 33 half-centuries, and has taken 80 international wickets with her right-arm leg-spin.Bismah Maroof said about her decision: “I have decided to retire from the game I love the most. It has been an incredible journey, filled with challenges, victories, and unforgettable memories. I want to express my gratitude to my family, who has supported me throughout my cricketing journey, from the very beginning until now. I also want to extend my thanks to the Pakistan Cricket Board for believing in me and providing the platform to showcase my talent. The support from the PCB has been invaluable, particularly in implementing the first-ever parental policy for me, which enabled me to represent my country at the highest level while being a mother. I am deeply grateful to the fans whose unwavering support has been a constant throughout my career, wherever and whenever I represented my country. Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow players, who have become like family to me. The camaraderie we shared both on and off the field is something I will cherish forever.”Head of Women’s Cricket, Tania Mallick said: “As Bismah Maroof bids farewell to international cricket, we are all indebted to her immense contributions to Pakistan women's cricket. On behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Bismah for her commitment and invaluable services to the team and the country. I wish Bismah all the best in her future endeavors, and may her journey ahead be as rewarding and fulfilling as her cricketing career has been.”During her illustrious career, Bismah was part of the women’s team that won the Gold Medal twice in the Asian Games, in the 2010 and 2014 editions. The southpaw also captained the side in 96 international matches. She represented Pakistan in four editions of the ICC Women’s 50-over World Cup (2009, 2013, 2017, and 2022), captaining the team in the 2022 edition held in New Zealand. In T20Is, Bismah featured for Pakistan in eight editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2023) and led the side in the 2020 and 2023 editions held in Australia and South Africa, respectively.
AS Ali Blind Cricket Trophy: Sindh and Punjab win matches
Sports Bulletin ReportPESHAWAR: Sindh and secured victories and advance in next round of the ongoing A S Ali Blind Cricket Trophy National One-Day Format Tournament 2023-24 in Peshawar on Monday.Sindh beat Balochitan by 7 wickets (Hayyatabad Sports Complex): The 5th match of the A.S. Ali Blind Cricket Trophy was played between Sindh and Baloschistan at Hayyatababd Sports Complex Peshawar. Sindh won the toss and put Balochistan into bat. Balochistan showcased exceptional batting skills, posted a formidable total of 408 for 8 in stipulated 40 overs. Captain Niamatullah, laid the foundation for Balochistan's innings with a solid 60 runs off 50 balls. Haroon Khan then took charge, delivering an impressive knock of 97 runs from 74 balls, including 10 boundaries. Thereafter, Mati Ullah continued the onslaught with a blistering 63 runs off just 35 balls, showcasing incredible power hitting with a strike rate of 180. Contributions from Bashir Khan (50), Fasiullah (30), and Naseeb Ullah (25) runs, further piled-up Balochistan's score. Despite the challenging bowling efforts from Sindh, particularly by Talha Iqbal (B3) who claimed three wickets, Balochistan's batsmen demonstrated resilience and determination, consistently finding gaps and punishing loose deliveries.Sindh batting in reply proved too strong and reached the uphill target of 409 runs in just 31st over. Badar Munir emerged as the undoubted hero of the match, crafting an exceptional unbeaten innings of 231 runs off a mere 109 balls. Badar's batting masterclass was characterized by a relentless onslaught of aggressive stroke-playing, featuring 41 boundaries and 2 sixes, which left the opposition bowlers clueless. Anees Javed's fluent knock of 80 runs off 69 balls provided crucial support helped his side to win with 7 wickets to spare. Badar Munir got man of the match award.Punjab beat KPK by 58 runs (Peshawar Gymkhana Cricket Ground): KPK won the toss and decided to bowl first. Punjab batting first, set an imposing total of 420/2 in the 1st innings, setting a formidable target for KPK. Mohammad Safdar exhibited exceptional batting ability with an unbeaten knock of 159 runs off 128 balls, anchoring Punjab's innings with precision and power. Moain Aslam also played a pivotal role in Punjab's formidable total, contributing a magnificent 122 runs off 121 balls before being dismissed, laying a solid foundation for his team's commanding performance. Punjab's innings was further bolstered by a staggering 108 extras, highlighting the pressure exerted by their aggressive batting approach on the KPK Blind bowlers. Shahzaib Haider (B2) was the lone wicket-taker for his team KPK.Despite facing a daunting target of 421 runs, KPK exhibited resilience and fighting spirit throughout their innings. Mohammad Rashid led the charge with a solid 83 runs off 57 balls and Shahzaib Haider contributed with 66 runs from the top. Israr Hassan’s valiant efforts of (B2) of spirited 74 runs off 52 balls went in vain, as Punjab Blind's bowling attack, led by Asif Khan, proved to be a formidable, he yielded three crucial wickets, stemmed the flow of runs and kept the pressure mounted on the opposition. Babar Ali's economical bowling spell further boosted Punjab’s performance, as he conceded just 53 runs in his 8 overs while claiming two vital wickets. Mohammad Safdar was judged best player of the match.
One-Day Tournament: Gull Feroza scores century in Multan's win
Multan beat Rawalpindi; Quetta beat Peshawar and Lahore beat Karachi in Super OverSports Bulletin ReportFAISALABAD: Gull Feroza’s century helped Multan beat Rawalpindi by 141 runs in the second round match of the National Women’s One-Day Tournament at the Bohranwali Cricket Ground in Faisalabad on Friday. Opening batter Feroza, scored 142 off 140 balls, which included 19 boundaries to help her side post 240 for seven in 50 overs. Rawalpindi’s captain Humna Bilal was the pick of the bowler with three for 25 runs.In reply, Noor-ul-Iman (three for 23) and Tasmia Rubab (two for 19) shared five wickets between them and dismissed Rawalpindi for 99 in 25.5 overs.At the Iqbal Stadium, Quetta’s Rameen Shamim’s successive all-round performance led her side to a 16-run over Peshawar. Batting first, Quetta were dismissed for 175 in 49 overs, with Arijah Haseeb (46, 59b, 6x4s) and Rameen (27, 45b, 4x4s) contributing runs. Aleena Shah, Mahnoor Aftab and Momina Riyasat bagged two wickets each. In turn, Peshawar were bowled out for 159 in 47 overs. Off-spinner Rameen bagged four wickets for the winning team.At Jawad Sports Complex Ground, Lahore scored 138 for four in 43 overs, with Iram Javed scoring an unbeaten 49. The play was stopped due to rain and when play resumed, Karachi were given a revised target of 167 to win in 43 overs. Karachi, in turn, were bowled out for 166 in 43 overs. Esha Rahupoto (35) and Yusra Amir (34) were contributors with the bat. Quratulain and Noreen bagged three wickets each for Lahore.In Super Over, Lahore achieved the two-run target in four balls without losing any wicket.Scores in brief:Multan beat Rawalpindi by 141 runs at Bohranwali Cricket GroundMultan 240-7, 50 overs (Gull Feroza 142, Rabia Rafi 35; Humna Bilal 3-25)Rawalpindi 99 all out, 25.5 overs (Aima Saleem 20; Noor-ul-Iman 3-23, Tasmia Rubab 2-19)Player of the match – Gull Feroza (Multan)Quetta beat Peshawar by 16 runs at Iqbal StadiumQuetta 175 all out, 49 overs (Arijah Haseeb 46, Rameen Shamim 27; Momina Riyasat 2-12, Aleena Shah 2-27, Mahnoor Aftab 2-37)Peshawar 159 all out, 47 overs (Tayyaba Imad 44, Ayesha Zafar 22; Rameen Shamim 4-19, Kniza Wahab 2-27)Player of the match – Rameen Shamim (Quetta)Match Tied – Lahore beat Karachi in the Super Over at Jawad Sports ComplexLahore 138-4, 43 overs (Iram Javed 49 not out, Dua Majid 30, Noreen Yaqoob 29; Anosha Nasir 3-7)Karachi 166 all out, 43 overs (Esha Rahupoto 35, Yusra Amir 34; Noreen Yaqoob 3-30, Quratulain 3-41)Player of the match – Iram Javed (Lahore).
West Indies Women crush Pakistan Women by 113 runs
Hayley plays her career-best 140 runs innings to give West Indies a winning start in KarachiSports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: A career-best 140 not out by Hayley Matthews gave the West Indies Women a 113-run winning start in the three-match ICC Women’s Championship 2022-2025 fixture against Pakistan Women at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.The 26-year-old from Barbados struck 15 fours and a six in a 150-ball innings to guide her side to 269 for eight after the visitors had elected to bat first. Matthews then demonstrated her skills with the ball to cap a fine day in the office by grabbing three wickets for 17 runs in six overs as the home team was bowled out for 156 in 35.5 overs.This was Matthews’s fifth career century in 81 matches and came from 125 balls with nine fours and a six. She had earlier reached her half-century from 57 balls with six fours and a six.Hayley put on 102 runs for the second wicket with Shemaine Campbelle (45, 71b, 4x4) after Sadia Iqbal had dismissed Rashada Williams in the third over of the innings. After the West Indies slipped from 103 for one to 138 for four, Hayley added 40 runs for the fifth wicket with Chinelle Henry (23, 23b, 2x4, 1x6).It was Hayley’s brilliance that allowed the West Indies to collect 77 runs in the last 10 overs, including 49 runs off the last 30 balls.In their turn at the wicket, Pakistan Women were left chasing the game from the very start when they plummeted to 65 for four, which soon became 100 for six. They were eventually dismissed for 156, thanks to 23-ball 25 by Tuba Hassan.From the top order, only opener Muneeba Ali (22, 33b, 1x4) and Nida Dar (19, 27b, 3x4) offered some resistance against all the accurate West Indies bowlers. Apart from Matthews, Afy Fisher and Zaida James picked up two wickets apiece, conceding 14 and 19 runs, respectively.
National Women’s One-Day Tournament starts on Wednesday
Lahore (PR): The industrial city of Faisalabad is ready to host the expanded and rebranded National Women’s One-Day Tournament, which kicks off on Wednesday. Until last season, the 45-over competition was contested by three sides – Blasters, Challengers, and Dynamites – under the Pakistan Cup Women’s Cricket Tournament banner.This year, the Pakistan Cricket Board, in its continued endeavor, support and promotion for women’s cricket, has included six regional sides for the competition that will be held in a double-league 50-over format, guaranteeing each side, at least 10, matches. The six regional sides competing in the event, which carries a total prize money of PKR2.245 million, are: Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, and Rawalpindi.The top two sides after 30 league matches will progress to the final on 11 May, with the winning side lifting the silverware and collecting a PKR one million cheque. The venues for this important event are Jawad Club Cricket Ground, Iqbal Stadium, and Bohranwali Cricket Ground, with Saeed Ajmal Academy Ground as the reserve venue.Omaima Sohail will captain the Karachi Region, Lahore will be led by Kaynat Hafeez, Saima Malik will skipper Quetta, Humna Bilal will lead Multan, while Gull Rukh and Mahnoor Aftab will captain Peshawar and Rawalpindi, respectively.Fixtures for Wednesday: Quetta vs. Rawalpindi, Jawad Cricket Club Ground; Karachi vs. Multan, Iqbal Stadium; Peshawar vs. Lahore, Bohranwali Cricket Ground.Fixtures for Friday: Quetta vs. Peshawar, Iqbal Stadium; Lahore vs. Karachi, Jawad Club Cricket Ground; Rawalpindi vs. Multan, Bohranwali Cricket Ground.
Pakistan Cricket Board names women squad for West Indies Series
Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Five women cricketers have been recalled to the white-ball squads as the National Women’s Selection Committee, led by Saleem Jaffar, announced 16-member ODI and T20I squads against West Indies women’s team.The three ODIs – part of ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 - will be played between 18 and 23 April, while the five T20Is will take place from 26 April to 3 May. All eight matches will be played at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.Saleem Jaffar, Chief Selector said: “The selection committee, in consultation with captain Nida Dar and interim head coach, has finalised 16-member squads for the ODI and T20I series. Five players in the squads return due to their performances in the domestic tournament and good skills they demonstrated in the camp.“The series against the West Indies is important for us as the ODIs are part of ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25. We are aiming to secure maximum points in the series, taking advantage of our home conditions, to enhance our chances for direct qualification for next year’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.“The series against the West Indies also presents an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills and secure berths for next month’s England tour. The ongoing domestic one-day tournament continues to provide chances to players not involved in the series against the West Indies to produce strong performance and stake claims for places for the England series.”Pakistan women's squad for ODI: Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof*, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda AkhtarPakistan women's squad for T20I: Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Bismah Maroof*, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-HaniPlayer support personnel: Saira Iftikhar (manager), Mauhtashim Rashid (interim head coach), Saleem Jaffar (bowling coach), Taufeeq Umar (batting coach), Hanif Malik (fielding coach), Mohammad Javed (strength and conditioning coach), Syed Nazir Ahmed (media manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist), Zubair Ahmed (analyst) and Nadia Arif (masseuse)Series schedule:April 18, 2024: First ODI at NBS at 0930am local timeApril 21, 2024: Second ODI at NBS at 0930am local timeApril 23, 2024: Third ODI at NBS at 1530 local timeApril 26, 2024: First T20I at NBS at 1930 local timeApril 28, 2024: Second T20I at NBS at 1930 local timeApril 30, 2024: Third T20I at NBS at 1930 local timeMay 2, 2024: Fourth T20I at NBS at 1930 local timeMay 3, 2024: Fifth T20I at NBS at 1930 local time.
Update on Pakistan women cricketers
Karachi (PR): The Pakistan Cricket Board has provided an update regarding two of its women players, Bismah Maroof and Ghulam Fatima, who were involved in a minor car accident on Friday evening. Despite sustaining minor injuries, both players received immediate first aid and are currently under the care of the PCB medical team.The two players also underwent precautionary CT Scans, which came out clear.Both players are part of the probables attending a training camp for the upcoming series against the West Indies, scheduled to begin on 18 April.
Australia's Claire Polosak to officiate women’s series in Karachi
Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Australia’s Claire Polosak will officiate as an on-field umpire in all the eight white-ball matches between Pakistan and West Indies women’s cricket teams scheduled in Karachi from 18 April to 3 May.West Indies women’s cricket team will arrive in Karachi on 14 April to play three ODIs – part of ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 and five T20Is. All eight matches will be played at the National Bank Stadium.In the ODI series, former Test batter and member of the PCB and ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees Ali Naqvi will lead the playing control team, while Muhammad Javed, also part of PCB and ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees will lead the playing control team in T20I series.Alongside Polosak, Abdul Moqeet, Imran Jawed and Nasir Hussain – all part of PCB Elite Panel of Umpires will serve as on-field umpires during the ODI series. Saleema Imtiaz and Humairah Farah, both part of the PCB Women’s Panel of Umpires will be the reserve umpires for the ODI series.For the five T20Is, scheduled from 26 April to 3 May, Polosak will be joined by Faisal Afridi (ICC and PCB Elite Panel of Umpires), Farooq Ali Khan and Tariq Rasheed – both part of PCB Elite Panel of Umpires. Afia Amin, Humairah and Saleema will be reserve umpire in the T20I series.Umpire and match referee appointments (Matches from 18 April to 3 May)18 April – First ODI. Claire Polosak and Nasir Hussain (on-field umpires), Abdul Moqeet (third umpire), Saleema Imtiaz (reserve umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)21 April – Second ODI. Claire Polosak and Abdul Moqeet (on-field umpires), Nasir Hussain (third umpire), Humairah Farah (reserve umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)23 April – Third ODI. Claire Polosak and Imran Jawed (on-field umpires), Abdul Moqeet (third umpire), Saleema Imtiaz (reserve umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)26 April – First T20I. Claire Polosak and Tariq Rasheed (on-field umpires), Nasir Hussain (third umpire), Humairah Farah (reserve umpire); Muhammad Javed (match referee)28 April – Second T20I. Claire Polosak and Tariq Rasheed (on-field umpires), Imran Jawed (third umpire) and Saleema Imtiaz (reserve umpire); Muhammad Javed (match referee)30 April – Third T20I. Claire Polosak and Faisal Afridi (on-field umpires), Tariq Rasheed (third umpire) and Afia Amin (reserve umpire); Muhammad Javed (match referee)2 May – Fourth T20I. Claire Polosak and Farooq Ali Khan (on-field umpires), Imran Jawed (third umpire) and Humairah Farah (reserve umpire); Muhammad Javed (match referee)3 May – Fifth T20I. Claire Polosak and Faisal Afridi (on-field umpires), Farooq Ali Khan (third umpire) and Afia Amin (reserve umpire); Muhammad Javed (match referee)
Pakistan women’s camp for West Indies series starts in Karachi
Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Pakistan women’s camp for West Indies series at home started on Tuesday (April 2, 2024) at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi, as 20 players reported in for the camp.The players will undergo the camp in Karachi till 8 April and disperse to their native cities the next day to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. On 13 April, the squad will assemble in Karachi to prepare for West Indies series which starts on 18 April. The bilateral series includes three ODIs – part of ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 and five T20Is.Head coach Mauhtashim Rashid said: “We had a good series against New Zealand and after that series our target was to bring improvement in the fitness of players. After the series we got time to work on players individually. We have added two new coaches to the support staff, and their presence will enhance our team's performance in the upcoming series.“We had a good domestic season this year, which helped senior and young players to perform and get back to the side. The players who are making a comeback in the camp are the ones who have performed well in the T20 domestic event. We are also organising a one-day tournament this month, which will surely create a healthy competition among the national and junior players and it is heartening to see an increase in the pool of players. This increase in pool of players was the need of the hour and it will help us to make two separate teams for ODIs and T20Is.“The camp for the upcoming West Indies series is organised in such a manner where we will work on players’ skills. We will challenge the players by giving them different match scenarios, will also organise different practice games, which will help the players to test their skills and achieve the targets assigned to them.”Names of players: Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Gul Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda AkhtarPlayer support personnel: Saira Iftikhar (manager), Mauhtashim Rashid (interim head coach), Saleem Jaffar (bowling coach), Taufeeq Umar (batting coach), Hanif Malik (fielding coach), Muhammad Javed (strength and conditioning coach), Syed Nazir Ahmed (media manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist), Zubair Ahmed (analyst) and Nadia Arif (masseuse)Series schedule:14 Apr – West Indies women’s team arrival in Karachi18 Apr – First ODI at NBS (330pm local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)21 Apr – Second ODI at NBS (330pm local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)23 Apr – Third ODI at NBS (330pm local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)26 Apr – First T20I at NBS (730pm local time)28 Apr – Second T20I at NBS (730pm local time)30 Apr – Third T20I at NBS (730pm local time)2 May – Fourth T20I at NBS (730pm local time)3 May – Fifth T20I at NBS (730pm local time).
Most Popular
