Cricket - Int News
PCB includes Pacer Naseem Shah in Test squad
Sports Bulletin Report
RAWALPINDI:-Naseem Shah has been included in the Pakistan squad for the first Test against Australia after Haris Rauf was ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19, as the first Test match of the three-match tie will start from March 4, 2022 at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
According to media department of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB),Haris will remain in isolation for five days and will reintegrate with the squad after a negative test at the end of his isolation period. Following Rauf’s positive test on Tuesday, rest of the squad members and support personnel were retested. All these tests have come out negative.
Squad for first Test: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Sindh)
Uzbek Team beat JJ Cricket Club by five wickets in T20 fixture
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD:-A 97-run unbreakable partnership for the 5th wicket between Atif Oryakhail (51) and Rehmat Ullah (50) helped Cricket Federation Uzbekistan (CFU) team to defeat JJ Cricket Club Islamabad by five wickets in the first Twenty 20 cricket match of the series at Bhutto cricket ground G-7 Islamabad.
CFU Team won the toss and decided to field first. JJ Club could manage only 156 runs on the board in their allotted 20 overs, as Farma Ullah was major contributor with 59 runs. He hit seven fours during his inning and faced 51 balls. Mohammad Afsar Khan played a sparking innings of 28 runs, as he smashed three fours and couple of sixes in 10 balls innings that amused the spectators and players. Mohammad Khalil contributed 24 runs in the JJ Club’s innings. He faced 22 balls and hit three boundaries. Mirwais Khan claimed three wickets for CFU after conceding 20 runs in his 4 overs.
CFU reached on their target in the 3rd ball of penultimate over of the match and snatched a highly regarded victory. Atif was top scorer with 51 not out runs, as he faced only 30 balls and hit three fours and three huge sixes. His teammate Rehmat Ullah also scored an unbeaten half century with the help of six fours and a big six after wasting 30 balls. Mohammad Afsar Khan got three wickets for JJ Club after conceding 28 runs.
Summarized scorecard:
JJ Club (Batting): 156 for 6 in 20 overs
Farman Ullah 59 (51 balls, 4X7), Mohammad Afsar Khan 28 not out (10 balls, 4X3, 6X2), Mohammad Khalil 24 (22 balls, 4X3)
CFU (Bowling):
Mirwais Khan (3 for 20)
CFU (Batting): 159 for 5 in 18.3 overs
Atif Oryakhail 51 not out (30 balls, 4X3, 6X3), Rehmat Ullah 50 not out (30 balls 4X6, 6X1)
JJ Club (Bowling):
Mohammad Afsar Khan (3 for 28) Salman Nawaz (1 for 24), Farhan Khan (1 for 28)
Umpires: Raja Iftikhar & Shaheen Iqbal
Prof. Arjuna de Silva to personally work with Bhanuka
BIPIN DANI
Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the chairman of the medical panel of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board will personally supervise, guide and monitor the fitness and skin fold level of Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
The 30-year-old top order batter has missed the selection of the India tour after being found to have an excessive skin fold on his body.
Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, Prof. Arjuna said, "I am a big fan of Bhanuka and will take all possible measures to ensure that he retains his fitness as per normal standard any international athlete should have".
Last week, the fans protested at the SLC headquarter to include him in the side.
"There is no time (to make him fit) to join the squad in India but he (Bhanuka) is a player, whom we can rely on for the World Cup and will surely work with his fitness from now onwards".
Even the sports minister Naman Rajapaksha has also hinted at these lines.
"The excessive skin fold can be hereditary but we cannot have an exception for one player. It is also unfair".
Bhanuka's fitness test was recently done and skinfold calipers were used just like everyone else. Unfortunately, he did not meet the minimum standard required.
"Fitness does not guarantee success but it does help with intensity at which one can play and perform continuously. Less fat amounts to less injuries".
"Excessive fat is only useful in Sumo Wrestling, where an athlete can't be pushed out of the ring easily", Prof. de Silva concluded.
Ramiz Raja credits crowds for phenomenal HBL PSL success
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja has paid a glowing tribute to the Pakistan cricket fans when he credited them for the phenomenal success of HBL Pakistan Super League 7, which culminated on Sunday with Lahore Qalandars winning their maiden title at the Gaddafi Stadium.
PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja: “There is no doubt that the HBL Pakistan Super League 7 has been a phenomenal success and this is largely due to the fact that we had amazing crowds, both in Karachi and Lahore. In my professional career, I have never seen such charged up, overwhelming, enthusiastic, lively and supportive crowds, particularly in Lahore.
“On behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board, I thank all the fans who crossed the turnstiles to not only play their significant part in the success of HBL PSL 7, but through our high-definition production showcased Pakistan as a cricket passionate country.
“I would like to thank our sponsors, players, franchises, the medical team, law enforcing agencies, local and provisional administrations, commentators and crew members, and ground staff for their untiring efforts, as well as millions watching on television all around the world who made this HBL PSL a memorable spectacle.
“HBL PSL 7 profits jumped to 71 percent, the most in its history, with each franchise earning around PKR900million, again the most in HBL PSL’s history, and all before the first ball was even bowled.
“For next year, we aspire to take this league to the homes of all franchises and broaden its fan-reach.”
Avishka Gunawardene sent to train Test players in Mohali
Bipin Dani
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board has sent the Under-19 coach Avishka Gunawardene to train members of the senior national Test players in India, it is learnt.
According to highly placed sources, Avishka Gunawardene has travelled with a few Test players (who were not part of the T-20I squad) to India. "They were not sent to Lucknow or Dharamshala where the T-20Is were played but have directly reached Mohali", one of the sources in the PCA (Punjab Cricket Association) confirmed.
Former left-handed batsman Gunawardene is not a part of the official squad and is likely to return before the Test series begins early next month.
"He has been sent to train the Test players ahead of the two Test matches. Once the full squad reaches Mohali (on Monday) after the 3rd T-20I is over on Sunday night, the coaching staff will take charge of the Test team", the source in the SLC, said.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to play two Test matches in Mohali (March 4-8) and Bangalore (Match 12-16).
Avishka was also coaching the Test probables in Colombo before the final squad was picked.
He will take charge of the junior boys on his return from India.
Iftikhar and Wasim Junior to replace Faheem and Hasan
Sports Bulletin Report
RAWALPINDI:-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captain Iftikhar Ahmed and fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Junior have been included in Pakistan’s Test squad for the first match of the three-match series against Australia.
The two have replaced Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali who have been ruled out of the Rawalpindi Test (first of the series) due to injuries. Both Iftikhar and Wasim (chosen due to their all-round ability) will reach Islamabad tonight and start their three-day isolation at the team hotel after which they will join the rest of the squad after clearing covid tests.
Faheem and Hasan will rejoin the squad in the coming week and after completing their three-day mandatory isolation integrate with the rest of the squad during the first Test, both are expected to regain full fitness before the second Test that will be played in Karachi 12-16 March.
15-player squad:
Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Sindh)
Test schedule:
1st Test, March 4 to 8, 2022 at Rawalpindi
2nd Test, March 12 to 16, 2022 at Karachi
3rd Test, March 21 to 25, 2022 at Lahore
Pakistan-Australia Rawalpindi Test: Training and media opportunities
Sports Bulletin Report
RAWALPINDI:-Pakistan and Australia will play the first of the three ICC World Test Championship Tests in Rawalpindi March 4 to 8, 2022. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized for practice and media activities for the players of both teams till the end of first Test match on March 8 at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi.
Sunday, 27 February
10.00am PKT/4.00pm AEDT: Pat Cummins arrival online presser
11:30am to 2:30pm – Pakistan practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (vision only)
Monday, 28 February
9.30am PKT/3.30pm AEDT: Usman Khawaja online presser
11:30am to 2:30pm – Pakistan and Australia practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (vision only)
Tuesday, 1 March
9.30am PKT/3.30pm AEDT: Steve Smith online presser
11.15amPKT/5.15pm AEDT: Pat Cummins and Pakistan captain Babar Azam will unveil the series trophy at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, a vision-only opportunity
11:30am to 2:30pm – Pakistan and Australia practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (vision only)
Wednesday, 2 March
9.30am PKT/3.30pm AEDT: Nathan Lyon online presser
11:30am to 2:30pm – Pakistan and Australia practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (vision only)
Thursday, 3 March
9.30am PKT/3.30pm AEDT: Pat Cummins pre-match online presser
10am PKT/4pm AEDT: Babar Azam pre-match online presser.
11:30am to 2:30pm – Pakistan and Australia practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Friday, 4 March
8:30am PKT: PCB CEO Faisal Hasnain, ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, CA CEO Nick Hockley and ACA Todd Greenberg will address a media conference in the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium media conference room.
Test match 4-8 March
Post-play: Media opportunities with a player/coach from either side
PCB announces squads for Pakistan Cup Cricket Tournament
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-After the HBL PSL 7, Pakistan Cup also provides a great opportunity to young and talented cricketers to showcase their skills to get a chance to represent Pakistan in white-ball series against Australia. Pakistan Cup is all set to commence from 2 March in four cities – Faisalabad, Islamabad, Lahore and Multan.
The tournament will be held on a double-league basis from 2 March and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa led by Iftikhar Ahmed will look to defend the title when they take on Raza Ali Dar led Central Punjab at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Test leg-spinner Yasir Shah will lead Balochistan, while another leg-spinner and all-rounder Shadab Khan will lead Northern. Test fast bowler Mir Hamza will lead Sindh which will meet Salman Ali Agha’s Southern Punjab on the opening day at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
The tournament carries nearly PKR10million in prize money. The tournament winners will bag PKR5million, while the runners-up will receive PKR2.5million.
Balochistan:
Yasir Shah (Captain), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Akif Javed, Ammad Butt, Asad Shafiq, Ayaz Tasawar, Azeem Ghumman, Bismillah Khan (WK), Haseebullah Khan (WK), Imran Butt, Jalat Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Saad, Mohammad Shahid and Taj Wali
Central Punjab:
Raza Ali Dar (Captain), Ahmed Shahzad, Awais Ali, Hussain Talat, Imran Dogar, Muhammad Akhlaq, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Irfan Jnr., Nisar Ahmed, Qasim Akram, Rizwan Hussain, Saad Nasim, Umar Akmal, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz and Zafar Gohar
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
Iftikhar Ahmed (Captain), Aamer Azmat, Adil Amin, Arshad Iqbal, Asif Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan Jnr., Imran Khan Snr, Irfanullah Shah, Khalid Usman, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Sarwar, Sahibzada Farhan, Sameen Gul, Waqar Ahmed and Wasim Jnr.
Northern:
Shadab Khan (Captain), Aamir Jamal, Ali Imran, Asif Ali, Ather Mehmood, Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Mehran Mumtaz, Mubasir Khan, Mohammad Huraira, Musa Khan, Nasir Nawaz, Rohail Nazir (WK), Salman Irshad, Umar Amin and Zaman Khan
Sindh:
Mir Hamza (Captain), Omair Bin Yousaf, Abrar Ahmed, Ahsan Ali, Ammad Alam, Asif Mehmood, Danish Aziz, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Hasan (WK), Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Umar, Saad Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sharjeel Khan and Sohail Khan
Southern Punjab:
Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Aamir Yamin, Abbas Afridi, Ali Majid, Azam Khan (WK), Faisal Akram, Hassan Khan, Imran Randhawa, Khushdil Shah, Rahat Ali, Sharoon Siraj, Sohaib Maqsood, Tayyab Tahir, Zain Abbas, Zeeshan Ashraf (WK) and Zia-ul-Haq.
Fazal Mahmood formally inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Fazal Mahmood, Pakistan cricket’s first superstar, was formally inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame posthumously when PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain presented a commemoration cap to his daughter Shaista Mahmood and a plaque to his son Shahzad Mahmood in a ceremony that took place ahead of HBL Pakistan Super League 7 Eliminator 2 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Fazal was the first Pakistan cricketer to be named in Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year in 1955 following his heroics on the 1954 tour of England when he took 20 wickets in a four-Test series, including figures of six for 53 and six for 46 that helped Pakistan win The Oval Test by 24 runs.
A couple of years earlier and on Pakistan’s first tour to India as a Test nation in 1952, Fazal had picked up five for 52 and seven for 42 that earned his side an innings and 43 runs victory in Lucknow. In the 1956 Test against Australia in Karachi, Fazal had figures of six for 34 and seven for 80 as Pakistan beat Ian Johnson’s Australia by nine wickets.
Fazal’s varied swing and a mixture of leg-cutters were too much to handle for the West Indies as the maestro picked up 20 wickets in the 1957-58 series in the Caribbean and then followed up with 21 wickets in three Tests in the 1958-59 series at home.
Fazal, who took 139 wickets in 34 Tests, was bestowed with the President’s Pride of Performance Award – the highest national literary award of Pakistan – in 1958. In 2012, he was posthumously awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz – the second highest civilian award – in recognition of his services to Pakistan cricket, seven years after his passing on 30 May 2005.
PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain: “It is an honour for me to formally induct Fazal Mahmood into the PCB Hall of Fame on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Fazal’s contributions to Pakistan cricket are unmatched. He sacrificed his Test selection for India and when he represented Pakistan after partition, he put Pakistan firmly on the world cricket map by producing successive match-winning performances against the top sides of that time.
“It was Fazal’s persona, personality and stardom that inspired and attracted the subsequent generation of cricketers who not only went on to become the legends of the game, but also earned Pakistan priceless victories and success. It all started with Fazal.
“Fazal will always be remembered as an iconic cricketer who spearheaded Pakistan’s journey from a young Test playing nation into a world-beating side.”
Fazal’s son Shahzad Mahmood: “Fazal Mahmood was the first real hero and star of Pakistan cricket. He always took pride in representing Pakistan in international cricket and fondly shared his memories from his playing days. Post retirement, he continued his association with Pakistan cricket and made meaningful contributions.
“On behalf of my family, I thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for honouring him and inducting him into the PCB Hall of Fame.”
Tickets are now available for Pakistan-Australia Test Series
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed ticket prices for the three-Test series match of which will be played in Rawalpindi (4-8 March), Karachi (12-16 March) and Lahore (21-25 March) respectively.
For the Rawalpindi Test, only two enclosure categories are available. The PKR500 VIP enclosures comprise Imran Khan, Javed Akhtar, Javed Miandad and Azhar Mahmood, whereas Premium enclosures include Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Miran Bakhsh and Yasir Arafat, and the price per ticket has been fixed at PKR100.
Four enclosure categories in Karachi and Lahore:
General – PKR 100 each
First Class – PKR 200 each
Premium – PKR 350 each
VIP – PKR 500 each
Tickets are now available online at pcb.bookme.pk as well as from the nearest M&P Courier outlets from Friday 1100 PKT. All ticket-holders will also have to display their Covid immunisation certificates and CNIC at the time of entering the venues.
In first phase, the PCB has released 50 per cent of tickets with further tickets to be made available online and nearest M&P Courier outlets after further guidance is received from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
Enclosure categories:
National Stadium, Karachi:
Fazal Mahmood, Hanif Mohammad, Javed Miandad, (VIP enclosure), Imran Khan, Quaid, Wasim Akram (Premium enclosure), Asif Iqbal, Intikhab Alam, Iqbal Qasim, Mohammad Brothers, Nasim-ul-Ghani (First-Class enclosures), and Majid Khan, Waqar Hasan, Wasim Bari, Zaheer Abbas (General enclosure)
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore:
Fazal Mahmood, Imran Khan (VIP enclosure), Rajas and Saeed Anwar (Premium enclosure), Abdul Qadir, AH Kardar, Javed Miandad and Sarfraz Nawaz (First-Class enclosure) and Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Majid Khan, Nazars, Quaid, Saeed Ahmad, Zaheer Abbas (General enclosure).
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