Sports Bulletin

Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka, Pindi Test No ball, no game, Day-4 calls off By Abdul Jabbar Faisal RAWAPINDI (December 14, 2019):-ICC Test Championship fixture between hosts Pakistan and visitors Sri Lanka, unfortunately, Day-4 called off by the umpire without a solitary ball game at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Saturday. The rain in the twin cities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad did not allow the ground men to remove even covers from the field. English umpires Richard Kettleborough and Micheal Gough deputed by International Cricket Council (ICC) announced after lunch on Saturday “No game today” Day 1 - Sri Lanka 1st innings 202/5 (DM de Silva 38*, N Dickwella 11*, 68.1 ov) Day 2 - Sri Lanka 1st innings 263/6 (DM de Silva 72*, MDK Perera 2*, 86.3 ov) Day 3 - Sri Lanka 1st innings 282/6 (DM de Silva 87*, MDK Perera 6*, 91.5 ov) Day 4 - no play

Asitha Fernando reaches Rawalpindi Sports Desk ISLAMABAD:-Sri Lankan pace bowler Asitha Fernando arrived in Rawalpindi (via Dubai) on Friday morning.  The right arm pace bowler is a replacement for another fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, who on the eve of the team departure had to be withdrawn after being down with the dengue. On his road route to the twin city from Islamabad to Rawalpindi, Asitha Fernando was accorded the tight security. The second Test will commence in Karachi from 19th December. Players are quite satisfied with the security arrangements. When not at ground mostly they are asked to remain in the hotel. Without security clearance they are not supposed to go out. SLC's security expert Romesh Goonathilake has been traveling with the team. In the meantime, Sri Lanka's first Test captain Bandulla Warnapura returned to Colombo (via Dubai) on Friday evening. He watched only the two-day rain affected game in Rawalpindi and was not at the ground on the 3rd day where even the sixth over if the day could not be completed. The 67-year-old Warnapura was a special guest of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Isuru Udana wins hearts of his fans Sports Desk ISLAMABAD:-Sri Lankan all-rounder Isuru Udana has won the hearts of his fans. The 32-year-old Udana, now playing the Mzansi Super League (MSL) in South Africa for Paarl Rocks, had all the time in the world to run out the batsman of the opposite team but decided against it because the non-striker Marco Marais was directly hit by a shot from his team mate Heino Kuhn. “Spirit of cricket Raise your hand for more moments like this! Always!” MSL tweeted from its official Twitter account. "I noticed that the non-striker was hurt badly and so I decided not to run him out", Udana, speaking exclusively to this Reporter, said. Incidentally, Udana had replaced David Willey as Paarl Rocks' international marquee player for the second edition of the Mzansi Super League. Willey had been ruled out due to the need to manage his workload. In 1964, England v Australia, Trent Bridge Test match, Australian wicket-keeper Wally Grout sportingly threw the ball aside and refused to run out Fred Titmus after he was accidentally knocked over by bowler Neil Hawke and left stranded. Sadly, there have been one or two cases of the polar opposite in sportsmanship in recent years, Grant Elliott coming to mind as a victim.

Qatar T10 League Squad 2019 Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (December 14, 2019):-As many as six teams are contesting for the top honour of the Qatar T10 Cricket League. Team Falcon Hunters Squad 2019 Hashim Amla (South Africa), Johnson Charles (West Indies), Salman Butt (Pakistan), Ammad Butt (Pakistan), Saad bin Zafar (Canada), Aqib Ali (Oman), Fayyaz Butt (Oman), Tom Abell (England) and Qatar Players (Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry, Mohammad Rizlan, Kamran Khan, Taimoor Sajjad, Murad Khan, Irshad Umer, Nawaf Pullangadam & Hussain Khan) Team Flying Oryx Squad 2019 Andrew Fletcher (West Indies), Hussain Talat (Pakistan), Krishmar Santokie (West Indies), Kennar Lewis (West Indies), Aftab Alam (Afghanistan), Sompal Kami (Nepal), Abdul Shakoor (UAE), Amjad Gul (UAE), Hamandep Singh (Canada), Bilawal Iqbal (Pakistan) and Qatar Players (Noman Sarwar, Musawir Khan, Asif Raja, Imran Ashraf, Jassom Khan & Bilal Butt) Team Pearl Gladiators Squad 2019 Muhammad Irfan (Pakistan), Mohammad Sami (Pakistan), Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka), Sharjeel Khan (Pakistan), Malinda Pushpakumara (Sri Lanka), Afsar Zazai (Afghanistan), Adil Khan (Afghanistan), Karim Sadiq (Afghanistan) and Qatar Players (Faisal Khan, Khurram Shehzad, Muhammad Nafees, Qalander Khan & Saqlain Arshad) Team Heat Stormers Squad 2019 Manpreet Singh Gony (India), Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan), Naeem Islam (Bangladesh), Mohammad Irfan (Pakistan), Rohit Kumar Paudel (Nepal), Scott Edwards (Netherlands), Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Suffyan Mehmood (Oman) and Qatar Players (Owais Ahmed, Raja Amir, Andri Berenger, Dharmang Patel, Imraz Rafi, Talal Ahmed & Afsarullah Khan) Team Swift Gallopers Squad 2019 Imran Nazir (Pakistan), Shafiqullah Shafaq (Afghanistan), Luke Wright (England), Danza Hyatt (West Indies), Ansh Tandon (UAE), Chirag Suri (UAE), Raninder Singh (India), Richmond Mutumbami (Zimbabwe) and Qatar Players (Zaheeruddeen, Inam Ul Haq, Sadiq NM, Zainu Dheen, Gayan Wimalshantha & Zahanzeb Ashad) Team Desert Riders Squad 2019 Sohail Tanveer (Pakistan), Khurram Manzoor (Pakistan), Amjad Khan (UAE), Bhupinder Singh (Canada), CP Rizwan (UAE), Oshane Thomas (West Indies), Kithruwan (Sri Lanka), Shahadat Hossain (Bangladesh) and Qatar Players (Awais Malik, Muhammad Tanveer, Mujeeb Khan, Muhammad Ikram, Himanshu Rathod & Imal Malindu Liyanage)

  Australia and England teams will visit Pakistan, Eshan Mani By Marium Bibi RAWALPINDI (December 12, 2019):-Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Eshan Mani hoped that Australia and England would visit Pakistan for a full cricket in next two years while Bangladesh would play two Test and three T20 matches in January and February 2010. On Thursday, he was talking to sports journalists at the media center of Pindi Cricket Stadium and further added, “We are talking to Australia Cricket Board and England Cricket Board about their upcoming tours, which will be taken place at the different cricket venues of Pakistan. My stance is very simple and clear. We consider Pakistan is a safe country for the international cricket matches. If any board of any country denies, it should prove this thing that why they do not want to come here, why we should run behind anyone. Chief Executive has visited here, in Pakistan with a director and now he has gone back and also chief executive of Australian and Ireland board came to Pakistan for a visit, “he added. “We will play a Test match with Bangladesh in the same city, very soon. Bangladeshi players will come to Pakistan for the series in January. There will be held 8 matches. It is our first step, there will be 6 venues and every team will have its own home. Peshawar will be one of these venues. According to the ICC Program, England will come to Pakistan in 2020\21 and Australia will come in 2022, “he said. To a question, Mani said, “It is the responsibility of selectors to pick up good players and at the end of PCB, we observe the performance of selectors not the players. People misunderstood that only Misbah ul Haq selects the players, in fact PCB have 7 selectors, who are retired cricketers. Retired Test cricketers are with Misbah Ul Haq, who decides that which players should be selected. Other test selector’s responsibility was to look after the domestic cricket when the team was playing in Australia and their assessment was that Shanwari and Fawad should be selected for the match, “he maintained. A question regarding the international cricket stadium Islamabad, head of the PCB said that it was the government responsibility to build venues not of board. “Pakistan is the only country where we are looking after 8 stadiums, so, should I spent money on stadium or cricket, because we do not have unlimited resources. Our responsibility is to work on cricket. We have a girl’s cricket section in Rawalpindi Stadium and Karachi academy is also dedicated to the girls. National cricket team matches are also expected here. Like, we are playing with England women team in Malaysia, if England team came first then their women has came here, but they wanted that first our men’s team should have come then they will come, which I can understand, “he concluded.

Yasir Shah to work at NCA Our Sports Reporter RAWALPINDI (December 12, 2019):-Pakistan wrist spinner Yasir Shah has been released from the Pakistan national men’s cricket team so that he can work with spin bowling consultant Mushtaq Ahmed at the National Cricket Academy. Yasir will re-join the team in Karachi on 16 December, where the second Test will commence on 19 December. Mushtaq was appointed as spin bowling consultant last week. According to his contract, he will work 120 days in a year at the National Cricket Academy with the U16, U19 and other domestic bowlers. As and when required, he will work with the national team.  

England Women beat Pakistan Women by 127 runs in ODI SB News Kuala Lumpur (December 12, 2019):-England Women beat Pakistan Women by 127 runs to go 2-0 up in three-match ICC Women's Championship ODI series at Kuala Lumpur’s Kinrara Oval. England, after electing to bat first, scored an imposing 327 for four thanks to Natalie Sciver, who scored an unbeaten century at a strike rate of 117.64, and Fran Wilson’s 49-ball 85 not out. The two crafted a blistering 146-run partnership in 14.1 overs – which also saw them accumulate 67 runs from last five overs. Coming in to bat at number four, Sciver scored a brilliant 100 not out. The right-handed batter smashed 12 fours in 85 balls. From the other end, she was supported by Wilson, whose splendid 85 not out was studded with eight fours and three sixes. Speaking about her second ODI half-century, Fran Wilson said: “We were kind of aiming for 300. We were taking things as they came in the process. We played with this approach to see where we can get rather than thinking about it too much. “I am really happy with the way we have started out here. It is about setting your standards and pushing for them to see where you can go. We are very happy as a unit, but still we’ve got a lot of games to go. Pakistan had put a dent earlier in the England innings by dismissing Danni Wyatt, one of the century-makers in the last match, in the second over. Heather Knight, the England captain, denied Pakistan bowlers further inroads, despite some disciplined bowling, with a measured half-century. Over the course of her 86 from 100 balls, which included 14 fours, the England captain crafted a 61-run stand for the second-wicket with Tammy Beaumont (21 off 38) and an 84-run third-wicket partnership. Nida Dar, with her off-spin, accounted for two England wickets at the cost of 67 runs from nine overs, while left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu returned one for 56 in 10 overs. Pakistan, in their chase, lost Sidra Amin (12 off 25) in the seventh over as right-arm medium-fast Kate Cross took a catch of her own bowling. But, Sidra’s opening partner Nahida Khan held one end as the right-hander scored 40 runs out of 43 balls, hitting four fours. Nahida put up a 47-run stand for the second-wicket with Javeria Khan, who made 26 from 37, and added 40 runs for the third-wicket with her captain Bismah Maroof - who with 64 off 65 top-scored for Pakistan for the second time in as many matches. Reflecting on her innings, Nahida Khan said: “Our plan was simple and it was to get as close as we can get to the target. We lacked a few solid partnerships in the top-order which hampered us from setting the pace required to chase a 300-plus score despite the wicket being suitable for batting.” Bismah cracked nine fours to register her 14th half-century in ODI cricket. The Pakistan skipper failed to get support from the other end after Nahida’s dismissal as Pakistan were bowled out for 200 with 5.1 overs to spare. Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone and Knight equally shared eight wickets between them. For her exploits, first with bat and then with ball, Knight was awarded player of the match. The third and final ODI will be played on Saturday at Kinrara Oval. Scores in brief: England Women 327-4, 50 overs (Natalie Sciver 100 not out, Heather Knight 86, Fran Wilson 85 not out, Tammy Beaumont 21; Nida Dar 2-67) Pakistan Women 200 all-out, 44.5 overs (Bismah Maroof 64, Nahida Khan 40, Javeria Khan 26; Anya Shurbsole 2-31, Heather Knight 2-33, Sarah Glenn 2-37, Sophie Ecclestone 2-39).

  ICC Test Championship, Sri Lanka post 202 for 5 on board in Pindi Test By Abdul Jabbar Faisal RAWALPINDI (December 11, 2019):-Sri Lanka managed 202 runs on board in the ICC Test Championship fixture at Pindi Cricket Stadium, as light allowed only to bowl 68 overs instead of 90 over per day schedule.  On Wednesday, Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne decided to bat first after winning the coin competition, as the visitor opener put 96 important runs for first wicket stand. It was enough good start for the Sri Lankan guys, as they lost their first batsman Karunaratne, who scored 59 runs off 110 balls with the help of 9 boundaries. He was judged Leg Before Wicket (LBW) on the bowling Shaheen Afridi, third umpire Richard Illingworth from England also rejected his appeal. After getting break through, Pakistan bowlers showed brilliant bowling tricks and get some quick wickets, as they were 127 for 4 at one time and tourist teams was in trouble. Oshada Fernanado 40 (81), Kusal Mendis 10 (47) and Denish Chandimal 2 (7) were dismissed by Naseem Shah, Usman and Mohammad Abbas respectively. Anglo Methew and De Silve aggregated 50 (96) runs for 5th wicket, as Anglo was dismissed by Naseem Shah. Asad Shafiq took his catch at first slip. Naseem Shah got two wickets while Usman, Afridi and Mohammad Abbas sent each one batsman back to pavilion. At the end of the day, De Silva 38 (77) and Dickwilla 11 (13) were not out batsmen, when umpires decided to end the day-1 game after 68 overs. Sri Lankan will resume their remaining innings at 202 for 5 on Thursday.

Pakistan stars can’t wait for the Rawalpindi Test Special Report RAWALPINDI (December 9, 2019):-Wednesday, December 11 will be a historic day in Pakistan cricket. When the first ball is bowled at Pindi Cricket Stadium it will mark the return of Test cricket in the country for over ten years. While the whole nation is waiting for the momentous occasion, former players are elated at Pakistan’s return to the Test map and have expressed their joy. Rashid Latif, who played three Tests against Sri Lanka in 1994 and 2002, said: “I was not born when Pakistan played their first-ever Test at home, but I have no doubts the fans and followers of that era must have felt the same as I am feeling today. It is a great feeling. “Ten years is a long wait and it is about to end, I can’t wait for the first ball to be bowled. “I am especially happy for the next generation of cricketers as they will now be able to see their Test cricketers in action at their home grounds and understand why Test cricket is so critical to the global reputation and standing of the team and the players. “Likewise, the present day cricketers will also get the real feel of Test cricket when they will play in front of their fans, families and media, which will give them that extra motivation they have been missing while playing offshore.” Moin Khan, who captained Pakistan in the March 2000 Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi which Pakistan won by 222 runs, said: “This series will not only mark the return of Test cricket in the country, but will also initiate the process of Pakistan’s ascendency in the pinnacle format of the game. You have to play regularly at your home grounds to become a force to be reckoned with which was something Pakistan missed for over 10 years. “We all fell in love with this game after watching the greats of ours times before our own eyes. Lot of us used to miss schools, colleges or universities to watch Test cricket and catch a glimpse of stars like Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and so many others. “Though I don’t condone bunking schools now, but that culture will be back when younger kids and teenagers will fill in the stands to watch top-class players like Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq and Yasir Shah. “While I thank Sri Lanka for breaking the ice, I will not shy away from appreciating the hard work of the PCB who made this happen. A lot must have happened behind the scenes, which we are not aware of, but the results do indicate that their efforts have come to fruition.” Former captain Shahid Afridi, who played a Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in March 2006, said: “I would like to thank the Sri Lanka cricket board for sending their team for the Test series, and I also want to thank the PCB for their efforts in ensuring the series takes place in Pakistan. It’s due to the PCB’s untiring efforts and resolve that Test cricket is being restored in the country. “Countries and boards must always support each other. In the past we have stood firm with Sri Lanka in all our cricket commitments and I am happy they have reciprocated our support. “Fans want to see Test cricket since it is the ultimate and most historic format of the game. I am sure all stakeholders have made adequate arrangements to make the occasion successful. I hope the fans have an easy passage to the stadium and can get to enjoy the game. “I wish the very best to both teams and also wish the best to PCB and hope they make this a memorable event and occasion for all cricket fans.” Mohammad Yousuf, who featured in seven home Tests against Sri Lanka said: “It is indeed a great occasion, Pakistan is a sporting nation and we love cricket. Sri Lanka team coming to Pakistan for Test matches is a big achievement and fantastic news for cricket fans who can see their heroes play in front of them. “I have some wonderful memories of playing cricket in Pakistan, I really hope this series will turnout well and we will see some good quality Test cricket which will be enjoyed by all.” Shoaib Malik, who featured in the last completed Test in Pakistan in March 2009, said: “Test cricket coming back to Pakistan is quite an emotional moment for me. When I retired from red-ball cricket, I knew I was letting go, at a certain level, the essence of cricket. “I knew Test cricket will return to Pakistan Inshallah but now that it’s here, I’m feeling very emotional. “I wish I was there in person to witness this but also see our stadiums filled with fans and enjoy a long form of cricket in this era of fast life. “I must thank the Sri Lankan team and the Sri Lankan Board for taking this step and playing an instrumental role in bringing international cricket back to our country and to our people. We will never forget, may that time never come, but Inshallah you will find us hand in hand with Sri Lanka and their people in times of need.” Umar Gul, who played alongside Shoaib Malik in the Test remembered for Younis Khan’s triple-century in Karachi in 2009, said: “I am extremely excited to see Test cricket returning to Pakistan. I welcome the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan. I want to thank them for their help in the revival of Test cricket in our beloved country. “It was always an honour for me to play international cricket in Pakistan and I can’t wait to see this Test series. I request all cricket fans to support both teams since cricket will be the eventual winner.”

England women beat Pakistan women by 75 runs Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD (December 9, 2019):-Centuries by Tammy Beaumont and Danni Wyatt, along with Kate Cross’ four-fer, set-up a 75-run win for England Women against Pakistan Women in the first of the three ICC Women’s Championship ODIs at Kuala Lumpur’s Kinrara Oval. In a contest live-streamed on the PCB’s YouTube channel, openers Beaumont (107 off 141) and Wyatt (110 off 95) stitched a staggering 188-run partnership after England captain Heather Knight opted to bat. Wyatt, later named player of the match, smashed 12 fours and three sixes to record her maiden ODI century before she was caught and bowled by Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof on the last ball of the 34th over. Reflecting on her innings, Danni Wyatt said: “I’m delighted to have gotten a century and for us to get the win. “It was a tough challenge early on. The pitch was slow and skiddy so it was really important to play straight. “Heather’s given me licence to play my game at the top of the order and that’s what I did. “We left a few runs out there and there are definitely a few things to work on for the next game, but Pakistan batted well and it was nice to start the new era with a good win.” After Wyatt’s wicket, Beaumont stitched a 60-run stand for the second-wicket with her captain Knight, who made 41 runs from 44 balls, allowing England to put an imposing 284 for six. Beaumont, during her stay at the crease, hit nine fours before Rameen Shamim, making her ODI debut, accounted for the right-handed batter’s wicket with her off-spin. Rameen took two more wickets in the last over of the England innings to finish with three for 61 in 10 overs, while left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu and right-arm leg-spinner Bismah picked up a wicket each. Pakistan wobbled early on as openers Nahida Khan (four off eight) and Sidra Amin (one off five) were back in the pavilion in the first 15 balls of the run chase with the scorecard reading five for two. Pakistan were soon dealt with another blow as Cross bowled Javeria Khan (19 off 32) on the last ball of the 11th over with only 39 runs on the board. A 67-run stand between Bismah (69 off 94) and Omaima Sohail (29 off 48) denied England bowlers further inroads. Aliya Riaz made the most of the stability that the Bismah-Omaima partnership provided as she struck seven fours in her 39 off 35. The all-rounder paired with her captain to craft a 48-run partnership, which kept Pakistan alive in the run chase. Bismah, who scored her ODI career’s 13th half-century, cracked six fours in her innings, providing a glimpse of hope to the Pakistan fans. But, the hopes crashed when Cross, who returned four for 32 in seven overs, bowled Bismah with her right-arm medium-fast. Speaking about her innings, Aliya Riaz said: “My role in the partnership with Bismah was to play my shots and keep the runs coming. “We had lost a few early wickets which kept us from scoring more runs. But, I am hopeful that as a unit we will overcome problems we faced this match and perform better in the next game.” England’s Katherine Brunt and Sarah Glenn took two wickets each for 31 and 38 runs, while Anya Shurbsole and Natalie Sciver picked up a wicket each. The second ODI will be played on Thursday.