SPORTS DESK Islamabad (August 13, 2021):- FIH President Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra says in his message, “Dear Members of the global hockey community, dear hockey fans, dear all, As the Games of the 32nd Olympiad have just come to an end, I would like to share a couple of words with you to reflect on the amazing experience we’ve just been through. First and foremost, I have no words to express gratitude on behalf of myself and that of the global hockey community to the Japanese authorities, the Japanese Organising Committee and the International Olympic Committee for having, despite these unprecedented times of pandemic, successfully managed to deliver a truly magnificent Olympic Games Tokyo 2020! For these organizations to have delivered such an outstanding Olympic Games is, quite simply, a phenomenal achievement. From our side, we’ve seen top-class hockey and incredible matches, despite preparations which were made far more challenging than usual because of the COVID-19 crisis. In this regard, I’d like to thank wholeheartedly all teams for being such great ambassadors of our sport, even in such difficult circumstances. Teams from four different continents were involved in the semi-finals. This is a major step for the globalisation of our game, which is such an important factor for its development worldwide. Special congratulations to all Medallists! This achievement will embellish your lives for ever! My thanks also go to the umpires and officials. Let’s all remember that they are volunteers, who dedicate a huge part of their precious leisure time for hockey. This is out of pure passion and commitment, something I think is remarkable. Of course, I’d like to address, from the bottom of my heart, sincerest thanks to the people of Japan, and especially the volunteers. Everyone coming from abroad, from athletes to officials, have been impressed – and surely marked for ever – by their hospitality and friendliness. THANK YOU, JAPAN! Last but not least, a big thanks to all hockey fans around the world who’ve followed the matches on TV or shared posts on social media. From wherever you are, your support has been felt up to Tokyo! Of course, hockey never stops! Either now or in a few weeks’ time, you will be on the pitch again, practicing, playing competitive matches, or helping your club, your National Association, etc … And this is great! But for the moment, let’s take the time to look back, relive and appreciate the wonderful time which the Tokyo 2020 hockey events have given us.

SPORTS NEWS Lausanne, Switzerland (August 12, 2021):-Double Olympian with Great Britain’s hockey team – in 2000, where he even captained the team, and previously in 1996 – Jon Wyatt (195 international caps) joined the International Hockey Federation as Sport Director in 2018. Present in Tokyo, he gives his analysis of the Tokyo 2020 hockey events from a sport and technical perspective. What is your overall technical assessment of the hockey showcased during the Tokyo 2020 hockey events? Jon Wyatt: The level of hockey across both competitions has been consistently the highest level of tournament hockey we have ever seen. The physical strength, speed and fitness of the athletes is beyond anything we have seen before, and the way they were prepared and able to continue to play at such a high level in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees and with 85% + humidity, was amazing. The skills on show and the ability to continue to execute skills perfectly even in the final seconds of the matches again showed the level of preparation all of the teams had undergone. On top of these physical attributes, the mental strength and team togetherness shown by so many teams who came back from being behind in matches, or won matches following defeats in a previous match, showed how well prepared they were mentally as well. And all of this during the huge challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused for us all. Athletes have had to spend long periods of time away from friends and family, weeks in hotels self-isolating in order to travel, and in many cases, the usual Olympic preparation has been significantly disrupted with only a handful of preparation matches being possible in the final months. Have you noted some new trends? Or a confirmation of certain elements of the game which teams have focused upon in recent years? As athletes have got fitter and defensive structures improved, the coverage of the pitch when defending by all teams has been fantastic. The way to unlock these defenses and find space on the field by using aerial passes is a trend that has grown in recent years but was taken to a new level in this tournament. All players are able to identify space and then deliver aerial passes, eliminating defenders, sometimes over 20m-30m, and at times using up to 60m passes. The receiving of these aerial balls, by attackers and defenders alike, has also vastly improved and it is now rare to see an aerial ball not controlled by the receiver, and more common to see such a pass creating a shooting opportunity and in some cases a spectacular goal. It is often said about such events that you can’t have a 100% correct assessment of a team performance after the Pool stage because from the quarter-finals on, the context is quite different. What makes the difference in the “do or die” encounters? The format of the Olympic Games, with a Pool stage followed by a knockout stage, certainly leads to a competition of “two halves”. The Pool stages are important as they set up the potential route to a semi final and final, so finishing high up in the pool is really important. As we saw in the men’s competition, the 2 teams that topped the pools (Belgium and Australia) went on to reach the final, whereas those that did not perform to their best in the pool stages ultimately didn’t make it all the way to the final. That said, there are obviously no guarantees in the knockout stages and despite winning their pool, the Australian women came up short and lost their quarter final to the inspired Indian women’s team. We saw last minute goals and shootouts deciding which team progressed to the next round, and even for the men, the destination of the Gold medal. In the knockout stages, there are no second chances. History counts for nothing and when it comes to the top 12 teams in the world, anyone can beat anyone in a one-off encounter (as the inspirational South African men showed against Germany during the pool stage!). Teams from four different continents were involved in the semi-finals. What does it mean in terms of the globalisation of hockey? It is a brilliant outcome for hockey and shows the true international and global growth of the game. This is the first time since 1976 that 7 different countries from 4 continents have been represented in the semi-finals, and to have medalists returning to each of those continents to spread the joy of hockey can only be good for the game. At the individual club, national, continental and international level, we all now need to capitalize on these inspirational stories and teams, by providing opportunities for newcomers to try hockey and fall in love with our beautiful game. Other nations such as Japan or South Africa did not make it to the quarter-finals. However would you agree that they showed they can absolutely compete with the teams who did qualify? And if yes, why? By definition, not every team can make it to the quarter finals, but all 4 teams in each gender who did not qualify certainly showed they deserved to be in Tokyo and at times were the equal, and sometimes superior, of their opponents. The South African men’s forwards have fantastic talent, scoring 4 against the Olympic Champions Belgium and of course defeating Germany, briefly raising them into the top 10 in the World Rankings for the first time ever, and ultimately seeing them ranked 12 after the Olympic Games (up from 14 beforehand). Both Japanese teams, winners of the 2018 Asian Games, also showed moments of brilliance and more than matched the top teams in the world for long periods. As usual, a few umpiring decisions were debated. But looking at the bigger picture, what do you think about the overall performance of the umpires in Tokyo? Just like every athlete, the appointed umpires and Officials have spent years training, working and improving to become the very best hockey officials in the world. They have spent long periods of time away from their friends and family, and had to cope with the restrictions of COVID and the lack of matches to prepare in their usual way, but every one of them has shown incredible commitment and dedication to be here in Tokyo. They are all volunteers, taking time out from work and their careers to facilitate the great matches we have seen, without financial compensation and in many cases incurring significant costs to follow their Olympic dreams. The pressure to perform and the analysis of every decision they make is far greater than even for athletes, and the criticism they have to endure for even the smallest mistake tests their mental strength to the limit. There is not an athlete in Tokyo who has had a perfect competition without a mistake, and yet this is what the athletes, coaches, social media hockey fans and critics around the world expect of every umpire, in every match. Of course, that is what they strive for, but as in all sports, hockey matches cannot take place without umpires and officials, and the effort and pride each and every one of them puts into their performance is humbling to witness. They are the best in the world, and like the athletes, they deserve to be congratulated and to be rightly proud of being selected for the Olympic Games, and for their excellent performance throughout the competition. To conclude, what comments did you hear about the turf? All 4 turfs, the 2 competition pitches and the 2 training/warm up pitches, have been outstanding. They have allowed the athletes to showcase their remarkable skills and the speed of the modern game. In addition, the sustainability credentials of the turfs (made from 60% bio-plastic and requiring 40% of the amount of water that was required in previous Games), mean we can be rightly proud of contributing to the wider environmental targets of the Tokyo Olympic Games. These 4 turfs will be left in Japan as part of the hockey legacy, for the Japanese hockey community to enjoy for years to come. The final word must go to the organisers and to the army of volunteers, for whom nothing was ever too much of any ask. To have put on an Olympic Games during a pandemic, with all of the additional logistical and medical challenges this has brought, is nothing short of a miracle. And all were with a smile on their faces. To everyone involved in the organisation of the Tokyo Olympic Games and the hockey competition in particular, on behalf of the FIH and every member of the hockey family from across the globe, we say to our Japanese friends from the bottom of our hearts.

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Rawalpindi (August 12, 2021):-National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), WAPDA' Navy and PAF have confirmed their berths in the top-four stage after winning their respective matches of the Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup 2021 on Thursday at Mari Petroleum Astroturf Hockey Stadium Ayub Park Rawalpindi. The semifinals will be played on Friday at same venue. The tournament resumed after a day rest, in the only morning session competition National Bank of Pakistan ousted Punjab with a big margin 6-2. Shan Irshad was top scorer for the winners, who netted the ball twice while Abubakar Tariq, Mohid Ahmed, Abu Zar Junior and Mohammad Atiq scored each one goal. Zain Ejaz and Arsal Khan scored goal for Punjab. In the penultimate contest of the day Pakistan Navy defeated Pakistan Army 4-2, as Hammad’s last minutes a spectacular goal confirmed the lead of Navy that led the winners to the semifinals. Teams: Pool (A): WAPDA, Pakistan Navy, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), Pakistan Army Pool (B): National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Air Force (POA), Punjab Schedule & Results: August 8, 2021 (Day-1): WAPDA beat Pakistan Army 2-1 NBP beat Pakistan Air Force 3-2 Pakistan Navy beat Mari Petroleum Company 2-1 August 9, 2021 (day-2) SSGC Vs Punjab 2-2 Draw Army Vs MPCL 3-3 Draw WAPDA beat Navy 1-0 August 10, 2021 (day-3) PAF beat Punjab 5-1 NBP beat SSGC 4-3 August 12, 2021 (day-4): NBP beat Punjab 6-2 SSGC Vs PAF 1-1 Navy beat Army 4-2 WAPDA Vs MPCL 0-0 August 13, 2021 (Day-5) 1st Semifinal (WAPDA Vs PAF) 2nd Semifinal (NBP Vs Navy) August 14, 2021 (Day-6) Third place match Final     

SPORTS NEWS Lausanne, Switzerland (August 11, 2021):-With three gold medals (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Tokyo 2020) to her name, Netherlands captain Eva de Goede is looking slightly shellshocked. “It hasn’t really sunk in,” she admits before the interview begins. “It has been like a whirlwind between winning the gold medal and now.” The last few days may have been a whirlwind to the 32-year-old midfielder, but to all the opposing teams who faced the Dutch on their way to the gold medal, it was more like a steam roller. Unbeaten throughout the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 women’s hockey competition, the world number one side lived up to their billing. “I can’t believe that we did it. I am very happy and proud of the way we played,” says de Goede. “The pressure was quite high for us. A lot of people expected us to win and that is not easy. But we stayed focused from the start and we played a little bit better each game and that was what we wanted. “First we had to get used to each other and get used to playing at the Olympics. We excelled through the quarter-final, semi-final and then played our best in the final.” As she compared her previous Olympic experiences, which also include a silver medal win at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, de Goede says that the first thing she noticed was the quiet in the stadium. At such a major event, the Netherlands would normally be playing in front of thousands of people, either cheering them on or cheering against them. Either way, the quiet atmosphere was unsettling. “But also,” she says, “it was very special because it was so intimate with the team. And we knew that we had the support of thousands of people around the world.” The Netherlands won the gold medal after defeating Argentina 3-1 in the final. De Goede recalls the moment the final whistle went. “It was a very special moment. I still can’t believe we actually did it. “It [the Olympic Games] took way longer than expected, so for another year and a half we had to keep pushing. And then, after all the delay, it all went by so quickly at the end.” On their return to the Netherlands, the team went straight to the beach at Scheveningen where the Dutch National Olympic Committee hosted a party for returning athletes, family and friends. “It was special that we could have a celebration even in these times,” says de Goede. Speaking about the Netherlands Head Coach, Alyson Annan, Eva said: “Alyson is so good at giving us trust and confidence that we can do it. She also gets us to talk about things. Apart from that, she is an amazing coach. Because of that, you go to the Games knowing and trusting you are fully prepared.” Fans of Dutch hockey and fans of hockey generally will be disappointed to hear that Eva de Goede has hinted that she may not be gracing the stage at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 but, if this is to be the midfielder’s last Olympics, then she can gracefully retire as a true champion at the pinnacle of her sport.

SPORTS NEWS Dubai (August 11, 2021):-All-rounder and captain of the West Indies women squad Stafanie Taylor was deservingly voted the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for July 2021. Taylor contributed with both bat and ball as she led her team to win the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan in July. In the four ODIs against Pakistan, Stafanie scored 175 runs with a strike rate of 79.18 and took three wickets with an economy rate of 3.72. Stafanie was also on top of the rankings for batters and allrounders in the MRF ICC Women’s ODI Rankings earlier in July. Commenting on her recognition, Stafanie said: “This is a bit surprising to me, winning ICC Player of the Month award for July, but I’m happy. It shows that the hard work you put in, will pay off and it did, against Pakistan, to help us win that series. We played well in both formats. “I’m over in England now playing in The Hundred, which is a different kind of competition, played at a faster pace, but I’m still working hard. We’re also looking forward to the series against South Africa at home, and we will be looking to win that as well. I want to thank the fans for all their support, as it is always appreciated.” From the Bangladesh camp, experienced all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was deservingly named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2021 for his stellar performance across all three formats of the game. Shakib’s contributions to all three formats of the game helped Bangladesh win the series against Zimbabwe last month. He scored 96 unbeaten runs as Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by three wickets in the second ODI at the Harare Sports Club. In the T20Is with the ball, Hasan took three wickets at an economy rate of seven leading his country to a series win against Zimbabwe. He is also the top Men’s all-rounder in the MRF ICC Men’s T20 Rankings announced earlier today. Reacting to his award Shakib Al Hasan said: “It is very humbling to be voted ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2021. There have been many outstanding performances during the month and that is why this is special for me. “I find most pleasure and satisfaction when I contribute to wins and therefore, I am very happy to have helped in Bangladesh’s successes over the last few weeks.”

SPORTS NEWS Kingston, Jamaica (August 11, 2021):-Pakistan have announced a 19-member Test squad for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against the West Indies. The two-Test series will commence at the Sabina Park on Thursday, August 12. The squad was confirmed by Pakistan captain Babar Azam during his pre-series media conference, held via teleconference, on Wednesday. Pakistan Test squad: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (wicketkeeper) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Yasir Shah (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab). Pakistan captain Babar Azam “Looking at the likely team composition for the two Tests and giving preference to wellbeing of the players, it has been agreed to release Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz so that they can return to Pakistan and spend quality time with their families. This will also give them a few extra days to relax, regroup and recharge for the commitment ahead, which commence with the series against Afghanistan. “The past 12 months have been tough and the cricket that lays ahead is equally challenging and demanding. As such, we need to have as many fresh bodies as practically possible without comprising on the team results and performances. “Away Test series are always challenging and it is our endeavour to be a high-performing side on away series. Red-ball cricket is the pinnacle format of the game and is a test of skill, endurance, technique, patience and fitness. Test cricket does not allow you to show complacency at any stage and this is what we will like to achieve at the Sabina Park over the next couple of weeks. “Jamaican pitches provide a good challenge to the batters hence our batters need to come to the party and display their true potential and calibre in the two Tests. They have performed well this year and it is now time to take that confidence into the Test series and put up an improved and enhanced performance. “Whenever you come to the West Indies, you want to play your best cricket because of the strong heritage and history of this beautiful region. In this background, it was frustrating to see weather dominate the T20I series. As part of the T20 World Cup preparations, we wanted to give maximum opportunities to our players against the firepower of the West Indies but unfortunately the series got badly affected due to rain. “No one can control weather, but I think it is time to look at alternates to ensure cricket is not affected by weather. Maybe adding reserve days to every white-ball matches is an option, I don’t know, but I think there needs to be some debate around ensuring there is minimum loss of cricket due to weather.” Head to Head In the 17 Test series played between the two teams, Pakistan enjoy a 6-5 edge over the West Indies. However, the West Indies has a clear 4-1 lead over Pakistan in the eight series played in the Caribbean. In the last meeting between in 2016-17, Pakistan ended their win drought in the Caribbean by clinching their first-ever Test series victory by 2-1. In this series, Pakistan won the first Test in Jamaica by seven wickets before the host levelled the series in Barbados by winning second Test by 106 runs. In a nail-biting and thrilling series decider in Dominica, Pakistan won by 101 runs when Yasir Shah famously bowled Shannon Gabriel on the final ball of the penultimate over of the series with Roston Chase stranded at the non-striker’s end. Yasir Shah, who was adjudged player of the series, is part of the Pakistan squad, while Gabriel will be missed by the West Indies. Misbah-ul-Haq was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in that series with 271 runs. He is presently the head coach and will aim to achieve the rare distinction of winning in the West Indies, both as captain and coach. ICC World Test Championship and Rankings For both Pakistan and the West Indies, this is their first series in the ICC World Test Championship. In this event, each side plays three home and three away series. Pakistan’s other away commitments are against Bangladesh (post-T20 World Cup) and Sri Lanka (July/August 2021), while their home series are against Australia, New Zealand and England (all in 2022). In the ICC World Test Championship, a side gets 12 points for winning a match, four for a draw and six for a tie, while a side is docked one championship point for each over short. In the ICC Test Team Rankings, Pakistan is ranked fifth with 94 points, while the West Indies are seventh on 78 points. If Pakistan wins both the Tests, they will rise to 97 points, while the West Indies will slip to 75 points. If the series result is reversed, then Pakistan will drop two points behind South Africa in sixth place on 86 points, while the West Indies will move to 85 points. A 1-1 draw will mean Pakistan will finish on 92 points (down by two points), while the West Indies will end on 80 points (up by two points). Player rankings: Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Azhar Ali are ranked 10th and 17th, respectively in the ICC Test Player Rankings, while Mohammad Rizwan is just outside the top-20 in 21st position. No West Indian batter is included in top 40 Test rank batsmen. In bowling, West Indies' Jason Holder and Kemar Roach are 11th and 13th, respectively while Pakistan's Hasan Ali and Mohammad Abbas are sharing 15th position. Shaheen Shah Afridi is 22nd and Yasir Shah 29th, and will be aiming to move up the ladder. Year 2021 for Pakistan players: With 407 runs, Azhar Ali is the most successful Pakistan batsman in 2021. Opener Abid Ali (359), Fawad Alam (333), Mohammad Rizwan (303) and Faheem Ashraf (247) are the other batsmen to dominate the two Tests each against South Africa and Zimbabwe. Hasan Ali is Pakistan’s most successful bowler this year. He has taken 26 wickets since 1 January 2021. Meanwhile, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken 19 and Nauman Ali has taken 16 wickets. Fixtures: 12-16 August: 1st Test match, Sabina Park, Jamaica 20-24 August: 2nd Test match, Sabina Park, Jamaica      

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Rawalpindi (August 10, 2021):-Pakistan Air Force (POA) outclassed Punjab 5-1 in the Group-B match of the Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup 2021 on Tuesday here at the blue surface of the Mari Petroleum Astroturf Hockey Stadium Ayub Park. PAF team started the game with a bang, as they attacked the Punjab goal-post back-to-back in the first quarter of the game. Rizwan Ali was unstoppable for the Punjabi guys, as he netted the ball thrice during the all four quarters. Sufyan Khan and Abdul Reham scored each one goal for their team PAF.  Bilal Aslam scored only one goal for Punjab team. Later in the second match of the day National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) defeated Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) 4-3 in a well contested match. Dilbar Khan, Ali Hasan, Junaid Manzoor and Arsalan Qadir scored goal for winners while Sohail Riaz scored two and Abbas Haider one goal for SSGC. Sohail was declared player of the match. Teams: Pool (A): WAPDA, Pakistan Navy, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), Pakistan Army Pool (B): National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Air Force (POA), Punjab Schedule & Results: August 8, 2021 (Day-1): WAPDA beat Pakistan Army 2-1 NBP beat Pakistan Air Force 3-2 Pakistan Navy beat Mari Petroleum Company 2-1 August 9, 2021 (day-2) SSGC Vs Punjab 2-2 Draw Army Vs MPCL 3-3 Draw WAPDA beat Navy 1-0 August 10, 2021 (day-3) PAF beat Punjab 5-1 NBP beat SSGC 4-3 August 12, 2021 (day-4): NBP Vs Punjab SSGC Vs PAF Army Vs Navy WAPDA Vs MPCL August 13, 2021 (Day-5) Semifinals August 14, 2021 (Day-6) Third place match Final     

PORTS NEWS Lausanne, Switzerland (August 10, 2021):-With the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 coming to its exciting culmination with the national men’s team of Belgium and the women’s team of Netherlands taking the gold medals, there has been jostling for positions in the FIH World Rankings. For Belgium men, winning the Olympic medal in a scintillating match against their close rivals Australia brought another prize - a jump in rankings to number one in the world. The victory moved Belgium onto 2716 points, ahead of Australia who are on 2642 points. India men enjoyed a fantastic competition, beating Germany in exciting fashion in the bronze medal match. This was India men’s first medal since they last won gold in 1980. The 41-year wait ended with a bronze medal and wins over Argentina, Japan, Great Britain and Germany in the pool and knock-out stages, sees the India (2362) move to third in the world rankings, ahead of the Netherlands (2115) in fourth and Germany (2072) in fifth. Great Britain, whose world rankings are categorised as England (1990), remain in sixth position, after they lost to India in the quarter finals, while Argentina (1826) also retain their position at seventh. New Zealand (1598), Spain (1532) and Canada (1422) are also unmoved following their performances at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, but South Africa’s (1413) performance, which included a surprise win over the higher-ranked German team has moved the African team from 14th to 12th in the FIH World Rankings. Host nation Japan (1025) drop one place from 15th to 16th, meaning they change places with Asian rivals Korea (1065). There is, once again, no change at the very top of the women’s FIH World Rankings where Olympic champions the Netherlands remain resolutely in the number one position. Argentina’s loss in the Olympic final, combined with Great Britain’s bronze medal win, sees England (2275), who represented Great Britain in the world rankings, leapfrogging Argentina (2261), Australia (2234) and Germany (2165) to move to second in the world rankings. The quarter-final losses suffered by Australia [to India] and Germany [to Argentina] caused both teams to slip two places down the rankings. Spain’s (1859) strong Olympic performance sees the Red Sticks move from eighth to sixth, New Zealand (1721) have travelled in the opposite direction as they fall from fifth to seventh. India’s (1710) performance moves them up to eighth position from 10th, with Belgium (1700) remaining in ninth and China (1651) slipping to 10th. Ireland’s (1499) failure to make the quarter-finals in Tokyo sees the Irish team slip to 12th. It is no move for host nation Japan (1231) or South Africa (1040) who remained unmoved in 14th and 16th position respectively. Tokyo 2020 was the first Olympic Games to take place since the introduction of the match-based rankings calculated model, which came into play in January 2020. The move away from the previous tournament-based system to one where opposing teams exchange points in official matches means that, for the first time, the results of the fixtures in Tokyo will have a direct, real-time effect on FIH World Ranking positions.

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Rawalpindi (August 9, 2021):-The two matches of ongoing Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup 2021 on Monday, as the first match was played between SSGC and Punjab while second between Pakistan Army and hosts MPCL at Mari Petroleum Astroturf Hockey Stadium Ayub Park Rawalpindi. WAPDA tide-over Pakistan Navy 1-0 in the third fixture of the day-2. The first match of day-2 was played between Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Punjab that ended in a draw after four quarters fuss, as the final score was 2-2. Rizwan Ali and Sohail Riaz scored goal for SSGC while Zain Ijaz and Abdullah were the goal scorer for Punjab. It was great of the day and both teams showed nice hockey with full skill and different moves and attacks. Later, the second match of the day was also ended without any result. Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) and Pakistan Army tried their to win the game but at the final whistle the score board was showing 3-3 level. Both teams earned each one point after playing a draw game. Aamir Sohail, Mohammad Waqas and Wasim Akram scored goal for Army. Teams: Pool (A): WAPDA, Pakistan Navy, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), Pakistan Army Pool (B): National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Air Force (POA), Punjab Schedule & Results: August 8, 2021 (Day-1): WAPDA beat Pakistan Army 2-1 NBP beat Pakistan Air Force 3-2 Pakistan Navy beat Mari Petroleum Company 2-1 August 9, 2021 (day-2) SSGC Vs Punjab 2-2 Draw Army Vs MPCL 3-3 Draw WAPDA beat Navy 1-0 August 10, 2021 (day-3) PAF Vs Punjab NBP Vs SSGC August 12, 2021 (day-4): NBP Vs Punjab SSGC Vs PAF Army Vs Navy WAPDA Vs MPCL August 13, 2021 (Day-5) Semifinals August 14, 2021 (Day-6) Third place match Final     

SPORTS REPORT Lahore (August 9, 2021):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced the schedule of 2021-22 domestic cricket season in which it will hold 10 tournaments, comprising 266 matches. In the 2020-21 season, the PCB had organised 220 matches in nine tournaments to become the only cricket board to deliver a complete domestic schedule. Domestic competitions in the 2021-22 season are separate to the home international matches against New Zealand, England, West Indies and Australia, and the HBL Pakistan Super League, which will be held between September 2021 and March 2022. Not added to the 2021-22 domestic matches are the ongoing two-day CCA tournament matches, which commenced on 16 July and will conclude on 22 August, and the CCA U19 tournament that will begin on 1 September. The two tournaments are designed to provide opportunities to the outstanding performers to graduate to the Cricket Association sides for the senior and pathway competitions in the PCB Domestic Season 2021-22. The additional matches in the forthcoming domestic circuit have been added in pathways cricket for which the PCB has allowed the six Cricket Associations to field two sides each in the U16 and U19 tournaments. This means 12 sides will feature in the 62-match National U19 three-day championship and One-Day Cup, which will run side by side, from 3 October to 12 November in Gujranwala, Islamabad, Muridke, Rawalpindi and Sialkot. Another 12 sides will take part in the 31-match National U16 Cup from 8 to 19 March 2022 with Rawalpindi hosting the single-league competition. The National U13 One-Day Cup has returned to the national circuit after missing out last year due to Covid-19 pandemic. This single-league event will be held in Faisalabad from 8 to 18 February 2022. Director High Performance, Nadeem Khan: “For the 2021-22 age-group cricket season, each Cricket Association will be allowed to field two U16 and U19 sides so that we can increase the pool of players at the grassroots level with a focus on providing more opportunities and exposure to our next generation of cricketers. “This strategy is aligned to the Cricket Associations planning of reviving clubs, schools and universities cricket within their jurisdictions with the best players getting opportunities to express their talent in national tournaments. “In the U16 and U19 competitions, the players will be provided the same environment as in senior cricket which will help in their overall development as professional cricketers.” The 2021-22 season will kick-off with the eight-day Cricket Associations T20 tournament on 15 September in which the six second XI Cricket Association sides will go head to head in the shortest format of the game in Quetta. The National T20, featuring country’s best shortest format players, will be held from 25 September to 13 October. Eighteen first round matches will be held in Multan, while the remaining 15 matches, including the two semi-finals and the final, will be held in Lahore. Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, a jewel in the crown of Pakistan’s domestic events, will commence on 20 October. The first half of the 10-round single-league competition will be held in Multan, Faisalabad and Lahore. The event will then move to Karachi where it will culminate with the five-day final from 29 December. The three-day double-league Cricket Associations Championship for second XIs will be held from 28 September to 14 November, while the 50-over single-league Cricket Associations Challenge for second XIs will be played from 19 to 27 November. Both the tournaments will be held in Faisalabad, Lahore and Sheikhupura. Curtains will fall on the 2021-22 season in Lahore on 30 March 2022 with the final of the Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament, which will get underway on 25 February and will be played on a double-league format. The other two event venues will be Faisalabad and Multan. Nadeem Khan: “We are excited to confirm a quality-based and competitive cricket season, which will not only test the skills, technique and fitness of professional cricketers but will help the selectors and coaches identify top performers for their inclusion in the national framework. “With the amount of international cricket across all three formats scheduled in the 2021-22 season and beyond, the upcoming season will prove to be a pathway for all those aspiring to serve Pakistan cricket and making a name at the international level. “This, like the previous season, will be a tough one that will test the cricketers to their limits. But that’s exactly what we want. We want to see our domestic system produce mentally and physically tough players who can perform in any condition against any opposition. “Most of the first XI matches will be televised and promoted digitally, meaning no performance can be ignored or overlooked. “Like the previous season, the PCB will not only create playing opportunities for these players but will also provide them quality playing facilities as well as international standard lodging and boarding so they can produce their best performances. If we want our domestic system to be robust, competitive and valued, then we need to make sure we cater for all these basic requirements, which in the past have fallen through the cracks.” Details on the tournament schedule, squads and match official appointments will be released in the lead up to the events. Schedule (subject to any late changes): First XI competitions National T20 (six teams, 33 matches) – 25 September-13 October Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (six teams, 31 matches) – 20 October-29 December Pakistan Cup (six teams, 33 matches) – 25 February-30 March 2022 Second XI competitions Cricket Associations T20 (six teams, 15 matches) – 15-22 September Cricket Associations Championship (three-day) (six teams, 30 matches) – 28 September-14 November Cricket Associations Challenge (50 overs) (six teams, 15 matches) – 19-27 November Pathway competitions National U19 Championship (three-day) and Cup (one-Day) (12 teams, 62 matches) - (3 October--12 November) National U16 Cup (One-Day) (12 teams, 31 matches) – 8-19 March 2022 National U13 Cup (One-Day) (16 matches) – 8-18 February 2022