Sports Bulletin

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Shahid KhanAfridi has signed an agreement with Kashmir Supreme League to join as Supreme Ambassador of the KSL.According to an official of KSL, cricketer Shahid Khan Afridi has signed an agreement with the Kashmir Supreme League, as a brand ambassador. Chairman, Kashmir Supreme League Masood Khan and Shahid Afridi signed the contract in Islamabad.Shahid Afridi expressed his determination to highlight the Kashmir cause worldwide through KSL. The Kashmir Supreme League will be held in mid-November while the trials will be held from August 10 in Muzaffarabad.

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s men’s national selection committee today announced a 17-member Pakistan squad for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh. The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21-25 August, while the second Test will be held from 30 August-3 September in Karachi.The Pakistan Test side’s training camp will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 11 August and will be supervised by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood. The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of 17 August and expected to train in the same afternoon.Names of players for Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah AfridiThe 17-member Test squad will be led by Shan Masood, while left-handed middle-order batter Saud Shakeel has been appointed as vice-captain. Saud takes over from Shaheen Shah Afridi as part of the selectors’ strategic decision that is aimed at managing Pakistan’s lead fast bowler’s workload management during the period from 21 August 2024 to 5 April 2025 in which Pakistan is scheduled to play nine Tests, 14 T20Is and, at least, 17 ODIs.Of the 17 players picked for the first Test series of the 2024-25 season, 13 players were involved in Pakistan’s last series against Australia in December/January 2023-24. Mohammad Huraira, Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali have been rewarded for their consistent performances in the domestic circuit as well as for Pakistan Shaheens, while Naseem Shah is returning to the red-ball side after 13 months.Kamran Ghulam aggregated 1,025 runs in 11 first-class matches in the 2023-24 season and then had scored 148 runs in three innings against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin last month, including 100 not out in the first match. He was part of the squad for the home series against New Zealand in December/January 2022-23 but didn’t feature in the drawn two-match series.Fast bowler Mohammad Ali has been recalled after last featuring in the opening two Tests against England in 2022. He took 24 wickets in six first-class matches in the 2022-23 season, followed by 47 wickets in 14 first-class matches in the 2023-24 season. In the two four-day matches against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin, Ali took nine wickets, including six for 63 in the second innings of the second match.Huraira stroked a sparkling double-century against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin last month. He also had stellar last couple of first-class seasons. In the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Huraira was the only batter to break the 1,000-run barrier, aggregating 1,024 runs in 11 matches for Northern. In the 2023-24 first-class season, the 22-year-old right-hander scored 961 runs in 14 matches for the Faisalabad Region and Higher Education Commission (HEC). He was part of the squad for the tour to Sri Lanka in July 2023 but didn’t feature in the series, which Pakistan won by 2-0.Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali (injured), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr (injured), Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were the players who failed to retain their places in the Test side.Imam managed 57 runs in two Tests against Sri Lanka and then scored 94 runs in the Perth and Melbourne Tests, Faheem took one wicket in the Perth Test, Sajid claimed three wickets in the Sydney Test, while Nawaz and Noman didn’t play in any of the Tests.Names of players for ODI Series: Saud Shakeel (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saad Baig (wicket-keeper), Saad Khan, Saim Ayub, Sameen Gul, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Umar AminPlayer support personnel – Umar Gul (head coach-cum-manager), Ghulam Ali (batting coach), Fahad Masood (fielding coach), Dr Imtiaz Khan (physiotherapist), Faisal Rai (analyst), Yasir Malik (trainer), Shafqat Shabbir (media and digital manager) and Malang Ali (masseur)Saud Shakeel will captain Pakistan Shaheens in the first match against Bangladesh ‘A’. The squad will also include Test team members Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Sarfaraz Ahmed.For the four-day match, Pakistan Shaheens will commence their training session on Wednesday afternoon at the Islamabad Club under head coach Umar Gul. Jason Gillespie and Azhar Mahmood will assist Umar Gul before shifting their attention to the national side’s camp on 11 August.Following the four-day match, the eight Test probables will join the national side and the selectors will announce their replacements in the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the remaining matches against Bangladesh ‘A’.The PCB has been in contact with the Bangladesh Cricket Board and it is expected that the revised schedule of the Pakistan Shaheens versus Bangladesh ‘A’ series will be announced shortly.

London (PR): The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirms that Matthew Mott has stepped down as the England Men’s White-Ball Head Coach with immediate effect.The decision follows England’s recent ICC T20 World Cup campaign, where the team was knocked out at the semi-final stage by eventual winners India.Mott, who met with Rob Key, ECB’s Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, last week, will leave his role after two years in office.Appointed in May 2022, the 50-year-old Mott enjoyed immediate success, leading the team to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in the autumn of 2022. Under his leadership, England achieved white-ball series victories against Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Pakistan.Assistant Coach Marcus Trescothick will take charge on an interim basis for the rest of the home summer. In September, the team will play a white-ball series against Australia, which includes three Vitality IT20s and five Metro Bank ODIs from 11 to 29 September.Rob Key, ECB’s Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, said: “On behalf of everyone connected to England cricket and me personally, I would like to thank Mathew for all he has done for the team since his appointment. He can be proud of his achievements as he leaves his post as one of only three coaches who have won a Men’s World Cup with England.“After three World Cup cycles in a short space of time, I now feel the team needs a new direction to prepare for the challenges ahead. This decision was not made lightly, but I believe it is the right time for the team's future success. With our focus shifting towards the Champions Trophy early next year and the next cycle of white-ball competition, it is crucial that we ensure the team is focused and prepared.“Marcus Trescothick is well respected in the dressing room and will take charge of team affairs alongside white-ball captain Jos Buttler. Marcus and Jos have a good rapport, and I think their partnership will help us maintain continuity and stability.“The search for a full-time replacement will now begin. It is essential that we go through the right process to ensure we get the best person for the job.”Matthew Mott, said: “I am immensely proud to have coached the England Men’s team; it has been an honour. We have put everything into trying to achieve success over the past two years, and I am incredibly proud of the character and passion that the team has displayed during that period, including a magnificent T20 World Cup victory in 2022.“I would like to thank the players, management, and everyone at the ECB for their commitment, support, and hard work during my time. I leave with many great friendships and incredible memories."Finally, I would like to thank the England fans, who have always backed us and given us fantastic support wherever we have travelled around the world.”England Men’s Interim White-Ball Head Coach, Marcus Trescothick, added:“I am looking forward to working with Jos Buttler, the players and coaches over the next few weeks. The focus is building towards the series against Australia and our plans for next year’s Champions Trophy campaign.“England cricket is in a strong position, and the potential is huge, given the quality we have available. It is about harnessing that potential and developing the work that has already been put in place by Mathew Mott and the rest of the set-up. I’m excited about the challenge and shaping how we want to play.”

Bipin DaniA Sri Lankan psychologist Samantha Rupasiri has come forward "to help" Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya in his difficult times he's running through.Recently, Hardik and his wife Natasa Stankovic have officially confirmed their separation and the couple issued a joint statement on social media indicating their mutual decision to part ways and their plan to co-parent their son Agastya. As Hardik is in Sri Lanka to represent the Indian cricket team to participate in the 3 T-20Is, the psychologist has offered her services to keep the player mentally fit. "I am not aware whether the Indian team has brought any mental expert on this tour but if not, I am available to him for personal consultation", Samanrtha Rupasiri, who is officially serving in the Service Sector, speaking to this Reporter over the telephone from Colombo, said. Samantha Rupasri arised from University of Peradeniya in 2002 and contributed her guidance conducting educational sessions to Max Cricket Academy established at Keththarama in 2003. At that time Lasith Malinga,Nuwan Kulasekara,Dilruwan Perera, Dilhara Lokuhettige,Dhammika Prasadand and many more players were representing in U 19 squad.At present she is consulting several sports persons with the wide range of her knowledge as a sport psychologist. "Mainly sports psychologists are considering two major aspects. One is enhancing the performance of a player and other is to enhance the mental well-being". "It depends on Hardik's personal perception that he is coping with the situation. If he announced a separation of his marriage he would be able to face the situation.But everything depends on his mental condition, how he is managing his mindfulness. On this tour. If I am given a chance to interact with him I am confident of bringing him out of this trauma". 

Sports Bulletin ReportDarwin (Australia): Fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani has been ruled out of the Pakistan Shaheens’ Darwin tour after picking up a back injury. Dahani will miss the second four-dayer against Bangladesh ‘A’ starting from Friday and the white-ball leg of the Darwin tour, which involves two one-day matches and the Top End T20 Series.25-year-old fast bowler, who picked up four wickets against Bangladesh ‘A’ in first four-day match, will return to Pakistan immediately and will be assessed by the medical panel before starting the rehabilitation process.Spin-bowling all-rounder Mubasir Khan has been added to the white-ball squad as cover for Dahani. Khurram Shahzad, who was set to return after the completion of two four-day match series against Bangladesh ‘A’, will now be available for selection in the two one-day matches against Northern Territory Strike and Bangladesh ‘A’ on 4 and 6 August, respectively.

Sports DeskISLAMABAD: Following a successful season in the current Lanka Premier League, the Strikers family is expected to return in another exciting show at the Max 60 Caribbean League. The Strikers family is determined to provide unrivaled cricket excitement and promises to deliver another thrilling display of cricketing prowess in the international cricket season.Mohammad Waseem's incredible batting prowess for the Colombo Strikers and Isuru Udana's dynamic all-around ability for the New York Strikers are expected to make it memorable in their match against the Caribbean Giants. Isuru Udana and Muhammed Waseem were also two of the unmatched talents that made the Strikers moments unforgettable on the field.Talking about participation at the upcoming Max 60 Caribbean League, Mohammad Waseem shares, “The team is hoping for a successful opening game against the Caribbean squad. The fact that we are flexible is to our advantage. Preserving our edge and strengthening it is our objective.”Isuru Udana a Sri Lankan cricket player for the New York Strikers stated, "I am confident that our team is well-prepared to compete for top honors in the upcoming Max 60 Caribbean League."Isuru also discussed his teams intention to work harder this season by sharing, "We want to win right away so were excited for our first game. I promise to make a major contribution both on and off the field. I am truly honored to have been chosen for the New York Strikers roster."A long-lasting legacy in the cricket world has been established by the Strikers team due to their dominance in major competitions like the Abu Dhabi T10 the Legends Cricket Trophy and the Lanka Premier League. The Strikers family never ceases to astound with their skillful fielding aggressive batting and cunning bowling.Being the owner of a successful International Franchise, Sagar Khanna shares, “The Strikers mission always has been to participate in more competitive international formats. Participation at the upcoming Max 60 Carribean League adds great anticipation even for fans who have been constantly supporting our game.”The Strikers Squad owner Sagar Khanna elaborates on the winning roster by saying, “As always our priority is to support our squad members for peak performance. Our team this season is full of veterans ready to add some excitement and thrills to our campaign on the Caribbean stage."CEO of Strikers Squad, Shazmeen Kara also shares, “Accepting new formats has been essential for both the Colombo Strikers and the New York Strikers. Participating in multiple leagues has allowed our teams to gain more recognition from fans and earn meaningful victories. We are prepared to pen another gripping tale of triumph as we begin this new chapter.”It is evident that the Strikers want to compete at the top level and establish themselves as outstanding cricket players. Outside of cricket leagues, the Strikers are a popular cricket team that constantly raises the standard. Their path has been defined by their pursuit of victory and dedication to perfection. 

Sports Bulletin ReportDarwin (Australia): Pakistan Shaheens bagged a hard-fought 148-run win over Bangladesh A in the last hour of play on day four of the first four-day match at the DXC Arena in Darwin on Monday. Shaheens took all 10 Bangladesh wickets in 79.2 overs on day four with Mehran Mumtaz and Shahnawaz Dahani sharing seven among them.Requiring 408 runs to win or to bat out the day to save the game, Bangladesh A’s opening batters started the day by bringing up fifty-run opening partnership continuing from the overnight score of 20-0. Dahani struck to remove Shadman Islam (26, 65b, 4x4s) in the 22nd over. Shaheens’ bowling attack toiled for another 21.1 overs when Mehran eked out the vital scalp of Parvez Hossain Emon, who had faced 138 balls for his 57 runs hitting six fours and two sixes. Mehran soon trapped Aich Mollah, for a paltry four, in the 50th over. For the next 12.2 overs Amite Hasan (71, 102b, 14x4s) and Shahadat Hossain put on 57 runs ringing the alarm bells for Shaheens. Dahani made much needed inroads in the Bangladesh A batting by removing well-set Amite in the 63rd over and Ariful Islam (4, 5b, 1x4) in the 65th over with a little over two hours’ time left in the day. With Shaheens five wickets away from triumph, Mehran Mumtaz landed a double blow in 71st over to end Shahadat’s (42, 62b, 7x4s) rearguard effort and removed Hasan Murad for a five-ball duck leaving Bangladesh A 221-7. It took Shaheens 15.2 more overs to remove the remaining three batters as Ripon Mondol resisted with an unbeaten 43 off 30 balls hitting seven fours and Mahidul Islam chipped in with a 66-ball 15 with Bangladesh A scoring 279 all out in 86.2 overs. Mehran and Dahani collected figures of 4-84 and 3-57, respectively. Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali picked up one wicket each. The second four-day match will start on Friday, 26 July at the same venue. 

Sports Bulletin ReportLondon (UK): Ben Stokes will play in The Hundred this year, after the England Men v West Indies Men Test series is finished.Stokes, the England Men's Test captain, missed last year's competition but will be available for four games for Andrew Flintoff's Northern Superchargers team this season.The batters in England Men's Test squad - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith - will all be available for their teams in The Hundred immediately after the end of the third Rothesay Test match at Edgbaston, scheduled to start on Friday 26 July.The availability of England Men's bowlers will be dependent on workload and international selection, but Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts and Dillon Pennington are all likely to feature in The Hundred from the early rounds. Chris Woakes is expected to be available from Tuesday 6 August.

Sameer Ahmed KayaniEdgbaston (England): India Champions defeated Pakistan Champions by 5 wickets in the final of the World Championship of Legends 2024 at Edgbaston on Saturday (July 13). The Yuvraj Singh-led side showcased their dominance in the competition and secured the coveted title in a match that went down to the wire as two teams fought hard.Pakistan Champions, opting to bat first after winning the toss, posted a competitive total of 156 for 6 in their 20 overs. Kamran Akmal (24 off 19) and Maqsood (21 off 12) gave the team a solid start, but regular wickets kept the scoring in check.The standout performer was Shoaib Malik, who scored a crucial 41 off 23 balls, anchoring the innings. Captain Younis Khan failed to make a mark as he was clean bowled by Irfan Pathan for 7. The middle-order collapsed and Misbah-ul-Haq was retired hurt after a brisk 18, late contributions from Sohail Tanvir (19* off 9) ensured Pakistan reached a respectable score.Indian bowlers, led by Anureet Singh who clinched three wickets with support from Vinay Kumar, Pawan Negi and Irfan Pathan (one wicket each) were instrumental in containing Pakistan's batting lineup.In response, India Champions started their run chase with intent. Despite losing Robin Uthappa (10) early, Ambati Rayudu's explosive 50 off 30 balls set the foundation for the chase for the Men in Blue.Suresh Raina too departed cheaply for 4 in the same over, helping Pakistan make a comeback. But a strong partnership between Rayudu and Gurkeerat Singh Maan (34 off 33) kept India on track.With captain Yuvraj Singh (15*) and Irfan Pathan (5*) at the crease, India sealed the win, finishing at 159 for 5 in 19.1 overs, much to the delight of their fans.Pakistan's bowlers, despite their best efforts, couldn't halt India's march towards the target. Aamer Yamin was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-0-29-2, supported by Sohail Tanvir and Sohail Khan, who took one wicket each.Brief Scores:Pakistan Champions: 156/6 in 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 41, Kamran Akmal 24; Anureet Singh 2/43)India Champions: 159/5 in 19.1 overs (Ambati Rayudu 50, Gurkeerat Singh Mann 34, Yusuf Pathan 30; Aamer Yamin 2/29)

Sports Bulletin ReportNorthampton (England): South Africa Champions overcame Pakistan Champions by 9 wickets in their second match of the World Champions League 2024 after chasing chased down a challenging target of 211 set by Pakistan Champions in Northapton, England. Sarel Erwee led the charge with an unbeaten 105 off 57 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 184.21. His innings included 11 fours and six sixes. Jacques Snyman provided excellent support, scoring an unbeaten 82 off 47 balls, with six fours and five sixes. Together, they put on an unbroken 183-run stand for the second wicket, dismantling the Pakistan bowling attack. The only wicket to fall was that of JP Duminy, who scored 9 off 8 balls before being dismissed by Sohail Khan.Earlier, Pakistan Champions posted a competitive 210/4 in their 20 overs. Shoaib Malik's unbeaten 51 off 26 balls and Sharjeel Khan's explosive 72 off 36 balls laid a solid foundation. Contributions from Sohail Maqsood (24 off 24), Shahid Afridi (20 off 10), and Abdul Razzaq (25* off 15) bolstered the total. Imran Tahir and Dale Steyn were the standout bowlers for South Africa, taking 1/19 and 1/24, respectively. This comprehensive victory by South Africa Champions highlighted their dominant form, and Sarel Erwee's century was a testament to his exceptional talent.Brief Scores (South Africa Champions vs Pakistan Champions):Pakistan Champions: 210/4 in 20 overs (Sharjeel Khan 72, Shoaib Malik 51*; Imran Tahir 1/19, Dale Steyn 1/24)South Africa Champions: 211/1 in 18.3 overs (Sarel Erwee 105*, Jacques Snyman 82*; Sohail Khan 1/38)Result: South Africa Champions won by 9 wicketsPlayer of the Match: Sarel Erwe