Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today confirmed Bismah Maroof will continue to lead the national women’s limited-overs teams in the 2022-23 Season. Pakistan are gearing up for an action-packed bumper season in which they will play, at least, 25 matches with the schedules for the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be announced. Their season begins by hosting Sri Lanka in Karachi for three T20Is and three ODIs in what will be the first instance of ICC Women’s Championship matches being staged in Pakistan from later this month. Bismah’s team will then head for Belfast to play hosts Ireland and champions Australia in a T20I triangular series from 12-24 July before they move to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games to be held from 25 July to 8 August. Like the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, Bismah will travel to Belfast and Birmingham with her daughter Fatima and mother with the Pakistan Cricket Board sharing the travel, lodging and boarding expenses in line with its Parental Support Policy. In October, Ireland women will make their first-ever visit to Pakistan for three T20Is and as many ODIs, also ICC Women’s Championship matches, after which they will feature in ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup. They then travel to Australia for three T20Is and three ODIs, Pakistan’s first away ICC Women’s Championship fixtures of the cycle, at the start of 2023 and play ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February in South Africa. Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof: “It is truly an honour for any cricketer to captain their country and it is a great privilege for me to continue in this role. The 2022-23 cricket season is the busiest for Pakistan women’s side and we are excited and geared up for the challenges it presents. “Every match in the upcoming season is important for us as a team as bilateral ODIs will determine whether we qualify for the next ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and the T20Is provide us opportunities to prepare for the all-important T20 World Cup in February next year. “I want to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for its immense support throughout my career and especially in helping me strike the right work-life balance after the birth of Fatima. There was a time when I contemplated giving up on my passion of playing cricket, but the PCB ensured it never came to that with the introduction of the maternity policy, which has made the game as inclusive as it can be for the women in our country. I also want to thank my family and especially my husband, Abrar, who has been a great support throughout my career, and has provided me encouragement to continue to play for Pakistan.” Head of Women’s cricket Tania Mallick: “I want to congratulate Bismah Maroof on her retention as the leader of the national side. She has been an inspiration for women around the world with her demeanour on and off the field and I am sure our side will produce strong and consistent results in their leadership over the next year.” Bismah made her Pakistan debut at 15 against India in an ODI at Jaipur in December 2006. She is the only Pakistan women cricketer with 5,000 international runs. She took reins of the T20I side in 2016 and was named the ODI captain after the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Sports Reporter KARACHI:-The Pakistan Cricket Board today confirmed the match officials appointments for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka women T2oI and ODI series which will be played at the Southend Club, Karachi from Tuesday, 24 May. The Sri Lankan team arrives in Karachi on 19th May, the two teams will engage in a three-match T20I series with matches scheduled for 24, 26 and 28 May. The three ODI matches which are a part of the ICC Women’s Championship will be played on 1, 3 and 5 June. Umpires Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi, Imtiaz Iqbal and Imran Jawed will share the on-field and reserve umpire duties. Ali Naqvi will be the match referee for the T20Is while Mohammad Javed Malik will perform the refereeing duties for the ODIs. Umpire and match referee appointments: 24 May – 1st T20I, Karachi. Asif Yaqoob and Faisal Afridi (on-field), Imtiaz Iqbal (reserve umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee) 26 May – 2nd T20I, Karachi. Faisal Afridi and Imran Jawed (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (reserve umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee) 28 May – 3rd T20I, Karachi. Asif Yaqoob and Imtiaz Iqbal (on-field), Imran Jawed (reserve umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee) 1 June – 1st ODI, Karachi. Asif Yaqoob and Faisal Afridi (on-field), Imran Jawed (reserve umpire); Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee) 3 June – 2nd ODI, Karachi. Faisal Afridi and Imran Jawed (on-field), Imtiaz Iqbal (reserve umpire); Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee) 5 June – 3rd ODI, Karachi. Asif Yaqoob and Imtiaz Iqbal (on-field), Faisal Afridi (reserve umpire); Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee)

Sports Reporter KARACHI:-The national women’s team’s training camp for the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka formally begins on Monday (tomorrow). The camp will be staged at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre, National Stadium Karachi and will finish on 18 May. During the camp, the 26 camp participants will engage in three 50-overs (11, 14 and 17 May) and two T20 practice matches (12 and 15 May). On the remaining days of the camp, the participants will prepare for the series with extensive practice through nets and fielding sessions. Friday, 13 May and Monday, 16 May will be rest days. Media talk opportunities schedule is below. Monday, 9 May: Training session 9:30am to 12:45pm Head coach David Hemp’s media talk – Hanif Mohammad HPC, 12:30pm Thursday, 12 May: T20 practice match 11:00am to 2:30pm All-rounder Nida Dar’s media talk – Hanif Mohammad HPC, 12:30pm Wednesday, 18 May: Training session 9:30am to 12:45pm Batter Sidra Amin media talk – Hanif Mohammad HPC, 12:30pm Camp participants (players): Aiman Anwar, Anam Amin, Anoosha Nasir, Ayesha Bilal, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Ghulam Fatima, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Najiha Alvi, Natalia Pervaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shams, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umme Hani, Waheeda Akhtar and Yusra Amir. Support personnel: David Hemp (Head coach), Saleem Jaffer (Bowling coach), Waqar Orakzai (Assistant coach), Saboor Ahmad (Strength and Conditioning coach), Rifat Asghar Gill (Physiotherapist), Dr Muhammad Khurram (Doctor), Zubair Ahmed (Analyst). Series itinerary (training and matches at Karachi’s Southend Club) 19 May – Sri Lanka arrival in Karachi 21-23 May – Training 24 May – First T20I 26 May – Second T20I 28 May – Third T20I 1 Jun – First ODI 3 Jun – Second ODI 5 Jun – Third ODI

Bipin Dani Earlier this week, Sri Lanka's national women's team captain Chamari Athapaththu, playing for Falcons team against Warriors made a brilliant knock of unbeaten 107 runs, which included 13 fours and five sixes. The 32-year-old all rounder was playing the first D/N match in the FairBreak Invitational Tournament. Interestingly, the 90 players from 35 countries participating in this tournament have no display of numbers on their shirts. No numbers, flags only "Yes, the players' shirts have names and country flags instead of numbers", R. Venkatesh, the Tournament Director, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Dubai, said.  "This showcases the names of countries participating and also shows the players as individuals. This shows the global footprint of the tournament", he added. The players' kits are made of recyclable plastic or black hemp. "These two are sustainable materials. This is consistent with our policy of being conscious about wastage and degradation issues and ensuring that we promote sustainability", Venkatesh signed off.

BIPIN DANI Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed Navy man Nishantha de Silva as manager for the women's team for the forthcoming Pakistan tour. Nishantha has been working with the Navy as a Rear Admiral. He is the Director General Logistics Head of Logistics in the Navy.  Chamari Atapattu is likely to be the captain for Pak. tour. The team is likely to leave for Pakistan on May 20 and all six matches (three T-20Is and three ODIs) will be played from May 24 to June 5 at one venue (Southend Club) in Karachi.  Sri Lankan women's team is likely to be led by Chamari Atapattu, who, with Udeshika Prabodhani, are heading to UAE to participate in the first ever privately-funded FairBreak T-20 women's cricket event.  They will return to Sri Lanka on May 16 after playing in the event, which is scheduled to run from May 1-15 in Dubai.

BIPIN DANI Udeshika Prabodhani will be the second woman player from Sri Lanka to play in the first ever privately-funded FairBreak T-20 women's cricket event in Dubai early next month. The event is organised by Cricket Hong Kong. The tournament is scheduled to run from May 1 to 15, 2022. Along with Chamira Atapattu, the 36-year-old left-arm medium pacer Udeshika Prabodhani will reach UAE (United Arab Emirates) this week", Ravi Nagdev, the General Manager, Cricket Hong Kong said. "The Fairbreak T20 is something that Fairbreak Global and Cricket Hong Kong have been working on for years. It's an event which features 90 players from 35 countries, no other cricket tournament in the world has players from so many countries'', Nagdev added. "It's about putting the profile on Female Cricket and also growing the Cricket Market. Imagine players from Bhutan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Tanzania, Japan playing together with Suzie Bates, Heather Knight and or Laura Wolvaardt". "Former ICC umpire Simon Taufel will lead an officiating team from nine countries. He will be the mentor umpire assisting with performance development functions for the FairBreak officiating team", he added.   Pakistan Tour: Both players will return to Sri Lanka after the tournament in Dubai. Chamari Atapattu is likely to be named captain for Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan. The team for Pakistan will be managed by Nishantha de Silva, who works in the Navy as a Rear Admiral.

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI:-National women selectors have announced a list of 26 players for the preparatory camp for the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka that will be played in Karachi from 24 May. The 12-day long camp will be staged at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre, National Stadium Karachi from 7 to 18 May. Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig and Fatima Sana will not attend the camp and join the squad for the series on 17 May, the quartet will be taking part in a women’s T20 event in Dubai. Left-arm-spinner Nashra Sandhu will be missing out on the camp due to a shoulder injury. The six series matches (three T20Is and three ODIs) will be staged at Karachi’s Southend Club. Names of players: Aiman Anwar, Anam Amin, Anoosha Nasir, Ayesha Bilal, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Ghulam Fatima, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Najiha Alvi, Natalia Pervaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shams, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umme Hani, Waheeda Akhtar and Yusra Amir. Support personnel: David Hemp (Head coach), Saleem Jaffer (Bowling coach), Waqar Orakzai (Assistant coach), Saboor Ahmad (Strength and Conditioning coach), Rifat Asghar Gill (Physiotherapist), Dr Mohammad Khurram (Doctor) Itinerary (Venue: Karachi’s Southend Club): 19 May – Teams arrive in Karachi 21-23 May – Training 24 May – First T20I 26 May – Second T20I 28 May – Third T20I 1 Jun – First ODI 3 Jun – Second ODI 5 Jun – Third ODI

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-As part of its efforts to develop a strong talent pool of women cricketers and increase the participation of teenage girls, the Pakistan Cricket Board will hold nationwide trials in collaboration with six Cricket Associations next month. The trials will be conducted by highly qualified coaches, including former Test and first-class cricketers, for three age brackets: U19, in which players who are born on or after 1 September 2003 are eligible; emerging, players falling in the age bracket of 19-24 years; and seniors, for players between the ages of 25 and 28. To ensure the maximum participation of the girls and young women, the players who are part of the PCB’s regional academy system are not eligible for these trials. This development comes after the PCB announced that around 100 women cricketers will feature in the 2022-23 domestic cricket season. These trials will further help in nourishing the talent pool and strengthening the bench strength across all rungs with the ICC Under-19 T20 Women’s World Cup scheduled to be played in South Africa in February 2023 and a jam-packed national women’s side schedule. Schedule of trials by CAs:  Balochistan – 12 May Central Punjab 6-9 May Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 9-11 May Northern 10-17 May Sindh 18-28 May Southern Punjab 10-12 May Head of Women’s Cricket Tania Mallick: “To continue the growth and evolution of women’s cricket in the country, it is very important that the game is made accessible to teenage girls and young women across the country. This initiative will help us in digging up the talented cricketers, whom we can groom and provide necessary facilities and formal training to make them become better at the game. “I want to thank our six Cricket Associations, who have jumped on board for this initiative and have shown keen interest to develop and promote women’s cricket in their jurisdictions.” Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof: “When I started to play cricket, there were not enough avenues for girls to take up this sport. This initiative takes cricket to the doorstep of every aspiring cricketer, and bodes well for the development of women’s cricket in the country. “There is a strong interest in young girls for this game and with proper coaching, training and facilities, they will surely do wonders for the country.” Details for the trials in Gilgit-Baltistan will be announced in due course.

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI:-Pakistan national women’s team will begin their ICC Women’s Championship campaign on 1 June when they host Sri Lanka for the first of the three One-Day International matches at Karachi’s Southend Club. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka will arrive in the cricket-mad city of Karachi on 19 May and will have three days of practice in the lead-up to the three T20 Internationals, which will be played on 24, 26 and 28, May 2022. The ICC Women’s Championship fixtures are scheduled for 1, 3 and 4 June. Ahead of the series, the national side will undergo an 11-day camp in which 26 players will participate. The camp will be held at the Academy Oval ground adjacent to the National Stadium. This will be the third edition of the ICC Championship. In the inaugural edition from 2014-16, Pakistan finished ahead of Sri Lanka in seventh position. In the event that ran from 2017-20, Pakistan finished in fifth position, ahead of New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka. This will be national side’s first series at the venue since they hosted the West Indies for three T20Is in December 2018. This will also be the first international series in Pakistan that will be played outside the hard Managed Event Environment since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The players, team officials and match officials, along with other participants, will undergo on-arrival tests and will be expected to follow the SOPs to protect themselves from the virus. Anybody who tests positive will be required to undergo five days of isolation. Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof: “It is a great privilege for us to play the ICC Women’s Championship on our home soil and the side is very excited to welcome Sri Lanka. This edition provides us an opportunity to start fresh and make the most of the home advantage. “I am sure the team will perform to their fullest potential and the Pakistan cricket fans, who have extended us great support, will get to see better and consistent results.” At the completion of the series, the national side will fly to Ireland for a tri-nation T20I series in which they will take on the hosts and T20I champions Australia, before they move to Birmingham, England, for eight-team Commonwealth Games. The T20Is and ODIs during Sri Lanka women’s visit to Karachi will begin at 1400 and 0930. Schedule (Venue Karachi): 19 May – Teams arrive in Karachi 21-23 May – Training 24 May – First T20I 26 May – Second T20I 28 May – Third T20I 1 Jun – First ODI 3 Jun – Second ODI 5 Jun – Third ODI

Sports Bulletin Report CHISTCHURCH:-Australia won their seventh ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup with a 71-run victory over England in Christchurch. Alyssa Healy’s staggering innings of 170 saw Australia put on 356 for five as England’s bowlers had no answer to a batting masterclass, Anya Shrubsole’s three for 46 the only highlight for the defending champions. Nat Sciver once again steered England’s reply by battling to her highest score in international cricket with 148 not out, but it proved in vain after Shrubsole was dismissed to hand Australia the trophy once more. Having been put in to bat in the bright Hagley Oval sunshine, Australia were measured in the powerplay, taking 37 off the seam attack of Katherine Brunt, Shrubsole and Nat Sciver. But the introduction of spin in the form of Charlie Dean proved Healy and Rachael Haynes’ cue to start finding the boundary regularly. England’s fielding errors - that had started in their opening group game against the same opponent -re-emerged as Haynes was dropped on 47 before Healy was put down on 41 in the same Kate Cross over. As against the West Indies in the semi-final, Haynes’ half-century came first - off 69 balls - before Healy’s was brought up off 62 as they eased their way to the highest opening partnership in a World Cup final. Even as Dean continued to be targeted, spin made the breakthrough as Sophie Ecclestone took her 21st and final wicket of the tournament to dismiss Haynes for 68, Tammy Beaumont holding on to a mistimed shot as Haynes ended the World Cup on 497 runs. The partnership had ended on 160 runs, but Healy built a new one with Beth Mooney who was promoted up the order from five. But first Healy became only the second woman to score a hundred in a World Cup final, going at a run a ball as she became the only player to score two centuries in the knockout stage of a World Cup. And she then surpassed the highest score in a Women’s World Cup final as she moved to 111 with a four off Cross. More records came when Australia reached 260 for one to rack up the highest score in a World Cup final - with eight overs still to go. Amy Jones twice sent the umpire upstairs to review stumpings before she finally grabbed her wicket, stumping Healy who ended on a spectacular 170 from 138 balls – the highest individual score in a Men’s or Women’s World Cup final – with over 100 runs coming in boundaries. A packed Hagley Oval rose to applaud as Healy departed with Australia on 316 for two before another wicket came in Shrubsole’s over as Ashleigh Gardner was run out for one. Meg Lanning, making her 100th ODI appearance, did not last too much longer as she departed for 10 before Mooney was out off the very next ball following a sparkling 62 from 47. New batter Tahlia McGrath negotiated the Shrubsole hat-trick ball as she and Ellyse Perry added 25 off the final 13 balls to see Australia post 356 for five. In reply, England’s opening partnership failed to fire once again as Danni Wyatt was bowled by Megan Schutt for just four. Australia’s young seamer Darcie Brown was the target of England’s aggression, with Beaumont leading the charge until she was dismissed LBW by Schutt for 27 from 26 balls. Sciver was again called upon to deliver against Australia, having made 109 not out in the group game, and this time her presence at the crease gave England faint hope. She saw an LBW overturned off the bowling of Alana King before partner and captain Heather Knight was given out the same way two balls later for 26. Jones fell for 20 to end a promising partnership as England slipped to 129 for four before Sophia Dunkley was again part of an England rebuild. But she was bowled by King two balls after the fifty partnership was brought up, the leg-spinner extracting turn to bowl her round her legs for 23. Brunt then went for one as Healy got a stumping of her own before Ecclestone departed for three, out LBW to McGrath. Jess Jonassen grabbed another caught and bowled against England as Cross went for only two to leave Knight’s side needing an unlikely 144 with only two wickets remaining. Sciver was joined by Dean in time for her to bring up another brilliant century, coming off 90 balls with 10 fours and one six. The pair built a partnership of 65 before Dean holed out to Jonassen at third man attempting a reverse sweep. Shrubsole, the hero in 2017 as England beat India in the final, was once again involved in the closing action as she was the final wicket to go, Gardner taking the winning catch as England fell 71 runs short with Sciver stranded on 148 not out. Scores in brief Australia beat England at Hagley Oval, Christchurch by 71 runs Australia 356/5 in 50.0 overs (Alyssa Healy 170, Rachael Haynes 68; Anya Shrubsole 3/46, Sophie Ecclestone 1/71) England 285 all out in 43.4overs (Nat Sciver 148 not out, Tammy Beaumont 27; Jess Jonassen 3/57, Alana King 3/64) Player of the Match: Alyssa Healy (Australia)