Sports Bulletin

Raja Abrar LAHORE (January 3, 2022):-Former captain Mohammad Hafeez has announced his retirement from international cricket 18 years after making his debut in Sharjah against Zimbabwe on 3 April 2003. Hafeez represented Pakistan in 392 international matches, scoring 12,780 runs and taking 253 wickets, besides also captaining the side in 32 international matches. He was a member of the Pakistan side that won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England and Wales. Overall, Hafeez played in three 50-over World Cups (2007, 2011 and 2019), six 20-over World Cups (2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2021) and three ICC Champions Trophy (2006, 2013 and 2017). In the ICC Player Rankings, Hafeez achieved highest Test rankings of 22nd in batting, 29th in bowling and fifth in all-rounders. In the ODI rankings, Hafeez’s highest-ranking was 13th in March 2014, while he topped the bowling and all-rounder charts in August 2012 and January 2013, respectively. Hafeez’s rankings in T20I were equally impressive, peaking to ninth in batting in February 2007, third in bowling in August 2013 and number-one in all-rounders in March 2014. Mohammad Hafeez: “Today I say good-bye to international cricket with pride and satisfaction. In fact, I have earned and accomplished more than I had initially envisaged and for that, I am thankful to all my fellow cricketers, captains, support staff and the Pakistan Cricket Board who helped me out during my career. “And, of course, my family who made big sacrifices to ensure I achieved my aspirations of representing Pakistan at a global stage. “I am extremely fortunate, lucky and proud to have been considered worthy of donning the national kit with Pakistan emblem for 18 years. My country and my team have always been at my forefront and therefore, every time I stepped on to the field, I tried to raise their profile and image by playing hard and tough but within the rich traditions of spirit of cricket. “When you have a professional career as long as mine, you’re bound to have your share of highs and lows, and I was no different. Results apart, I can say with conviction that I had more highs as I had the privilege of playing with and against some of the finest exponents of the bat and the ball of my era. “While cricket has been a great learning school for me, this great sport has provided me opportunities to visit various countries, explore their cultures and make friends. These are lifelong memories, which I will cherish every day. I want to thank my fans and supporters for believing in my abilities and backing me throughout my career.” PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja: “Hafeez has been a wholehearted cricketer who worked tirelessly at his game to have a long and fruitful career. “His game evolved with time, adjusting to different formats quite intelligently. Later in his career, he became a T20 specialist, where he was never out of touch with modern demands of this testing format. His batsmanship took a sprightly turn, nailing sixes almost at will. “He has worn the green blazer with pride for which we at the PCB are thankful. I wish him best of luck for his future life and thank him again for his magnificent contribution to Pakistan cricket.”

Bipin Dani Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will join the ICC Under-19 World Cup squad in West Indies, it is leant. The 44-year-old Jayawardene, who has recently been appointed consultant coach for Sri Lanka seniors, Under-19s and 'A' team for one year, will leave for Caribbean islands later this month. Jayawardene, has also been assigned to select the coaching staff for the various positions, and is likely to have floated the process.  The same squad with no changes, which recently lost the U-19 Asia Cup final against India in the UAE, left directly from Dubai to Guyana (via London & Barbados) by Emirates Airways, British Airways and local flight) on Sunday morning. The squad has an over 18-hours flight journey. There were no outdoor activities scheduled for the players on Saturday. "There has been no change in the team or the support staff", one of the SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) board sources said exclusively over the telephone. "Ranjith Madhursinghe, who traveled with the team for the Asia Cup will also continue to be the tour selector for the World Cup", the source further added. The team will spend five days in quarantine before beginning the training ahead of its first match against Scotland on January 14. The final of the ICC U-9 World Cup will be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua on February 5. 

Aamir Ali Janjua DUBAHI (January 2, 2021):-Fans across the globe are counting down the days to the start of the 2022 ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup and the chance to watch the brightest young superstars in action. Sixteen teams will be bidding for glory as the very best U19 players in the world come up against each other on the biggest stage, with West Indies hosting the tournament for the first time ever. But while silverware will be the primary goal, the teams will also be looking to etch their names in the history books by beating some of the long-standing records set over the last 34 years. And ahead of the latest edition, here’s a look at some of the most impressive team records from the ICC U19 Men’s CWC since the tournament first came into being in 1988. Highest inning totals Australia U19s bludgeoned 480 for the loss of just six wickets against Kenya back in 2002 - with a run rate of 9.6 an over - in what can only be described as a stunning display in Dunedin. That innings score would be the second-highest in ODI history if the senior side hit it, and they weren't bad with the ball either, bowling Kenya out for 50 inside 22 overs. Craig Simmons starred that day, hitting 155, but Shaun Marsh was also outstanding. Marsh’s 125 runs from 81 balls along with George Bailey's blockbuster 56 from 26 balls were enough to make 20th January 2002 a historic day in Australian cricket. New Zealand are some way off with the second-highest total, but their score of 436 for four against Kenya in Christchurch during the 2018 tournament shouldn't be sniffed at either. India can claim the third-highest innings total thanks to their score of 425 for three against Scotland in Dhaka in 2004 while Sri Lanka hit 419 for four against Kenya in 2018. Lowest Inning totals A record no team will want to usurp in this year’s tournament is currently held by Scotland, who finished with the lowest innings total in ICC U19 Men’s CWC history back in 2004. Their total of 22 against Australia in Chittagong means they hold the unfortunate distinction of being the tournament's only team ever to possess a run rate below one an over. In response, Australia knocked off the 23 runs needed to win in 3.5 overs to secure a 10-wicket victory with 277 balls remaining as Cameron Huckett (four for seven) played a starring role. Canada, Japan, and Bangladesh are all tied for second place with totals of 41. Canada slumped to their total against South Africa in Auckland during the 2002 tournament, while Japan's performance came against India in Bloemfontein in the 2020 edition. Bangladesh suffered a similar fate in Kuala Lumpur in 2008, with South Africa bowling them out for 41 to win by 201 runs after skipper Wayne Parnell had helped his side to 242 for eight. Most tournament wins India became the only side to win four ICC U19 Men’s CWC when they came out on top at the start of 2018 in New Zealand and they have won 63 of their 83 matches overall. Their previous tournament wins came in 2000, 2008, and 2012, making them the most successful side in history having never missed a tournament in the competition’s history. Bangladesh won the competition in South Africa for the first time two years ago and now they will be looking to become only the second side to win back-to-back titles. The only team able to make that claim as of 2022 is Pakistan, who won the tournament in 2004 and 2006 and have the third most wins with 56 from 81 matches played. The second most successful team in the competition’s history is Australia, who won the first tournament as hosts before winning the 2002 and 2010 editions in New Zealand. They remain the only side to win on home soil and have 57 wins from 79 matches. England, South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh all have one title to their name. That means only seven of the 16 teams competing at this year's competition have won it before. Group C will see at least one potential new winner progress to the Super League. Most consecutive wins and losses Unsurprisingly, India also hold the record for the most consecutive wins, registering 11 consecutive victories from their 2018 title triumph through to the 2020 edition. Australia sit in second place again, with nine wins in a row that includes their 2002 title success through to the 2004 edition, while four teams have eight consecutive wins. India have achieved that feat on three occasions while Bangladesh, Pakistan and Australia have also registered eight consecutive wins in the history of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC. The unwanted record for most consecutive losses belongs to Papua New Guinea, who hold the top two spots with 21 defeats in a row and 13 consecutive losses. That first record started on their tournament debut in 1998 and concluded in 2008, defeating Bermuda by seven wickets in Johor to put an end to their losing streak. Papua New Guinea also lost 13 in a row between the 2012 and 2018 editions of the tournament, while Namibia have lost 11 consecutively (2008-2014) and Canada lost 10 in a row (2002-2004).

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Mount Maunganui, New Zealand (January 2, 2022):-Tourist team Bangladesh produced sparking performance on the second day of the Mount Maunganui Test both with the ball and bat, as they restricted Black Caps at 328 runs with magic bowling and later they were 175 for 2 in 67 overs at the close of the Day-2 game. Shanto was the busier of the two batters, hitting 64 off 109 balls. He struck seven fours and a slog-swept six that brought up his half-century. He drove the ball well on both sides of the wicket, and his best shot was possibly the cut he played against Wagner, when he moved well outside his leg stump and threaded the ball through gully and point. He fell in the last hour when Wagner got rid of him with a conventional outswinger coming from over the wicket. Shanto's uppish drive was well caught at gully by Will Young. Earlier in the day, New Zealand lost their last five wickets for 70 runs, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz picking up three of those. He had Kyle Jamieson caught at long-on, Southee at short midwicket, and Wagner caught behind in a burst that kept the home side on the back foot. Summarized Scorecard: Day-2 (New Zealand vs Bangladesh): New Zealand Batting (First Innings): 328 all out in 108.1 overs Devon Conway 122 (227 balls, 4X16, 6X1), Ross Taylor 31 (64 balls 4X5), Henry Nicholls 75 (127 balls 4X12). Bangladesh Bowling (First Innings): 175 for 2 in 67 overs Shoriful Islam (3 for 69), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3 for 86), Mominul Haque (2 for 6). BANGLADESH Batting (First Innings): Shadman Islam 22 (55 balls 4X1), Mahmudul Hasan Joy 70 not out (211 balls 4X7 ), Najmul Hossain Shanto 64 (109 balls 4x7 6X1) Yet to bat: Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das †, Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam New Zealand Bowling: (2 for 27) Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui Toss: Bangladesh, elected to field first Bangladesh tour of New Zealand ICC World Test Championship

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-India have been fined 20 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the first Test held in Centurion. Andrew Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after India was one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. In addition, as per Article 16.11 of the ICC Men’s World Test Championship Playing Conditions, a side is penalised one point for each over short. Consequently, India will lose one point from their points tally for this offence. Captain, Virat Kohli pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. Umpires Marais Erasmus, Adrian Holdstock, Allahudien Paleker and Bongani Jele leveled the charge.

Sports Bulletin Report DUBAHI (January 2, 2022):-The ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has long been a nursery for the games’ future stars and the 2022 tournament will be no different. This month, the world’s most exciting teenagers will arrive en masse to the West Indies dreaming of runs, wickets and ultimately, glory. However, they will have to go some to break some of the individual records that have been amassed in the previous 13 editions. MOST RUNS There’s a familiar name at the top of the runs column but instead of plundering boundaries for England, like he does now, Eoin Morgan competed for Ireland at the ICC U19 Men’s CWC in both 2004 and 2006. He played 13 times across the two tournaments and underlined his class by scoring 606 runs at an average of 50.50, including two centuries. Pakistan’s Babar Azam, another global superstar, is second on the list with 585, while other familiar names in the top 10 include West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite (548), India’s Shikhar Dhawan (505) and Australia’s Shaun Marsh (471). Dhawan scored all 505 of his runs in just one tournament in 2004, the most by any one batter in one competition. HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORE West Indies’ Donovan Pagon held this record for 16 years but in the space of just six days, it was broken twice. Pagon scored 176 against Scotland in 2002 in Dunedin and, again in New Zealand, the record fell in 2018. First, it was home favourite Jakob Bhula who set a new highest score, as he hit 10 fours and five sixes in a 144-ball 180 against Kenya. Kenya were back in action six days on and were again on the wrong side of history as Sri Lanka’s Hasitha Boyagoda his 28 fours in a 152-ball 191. MOST CENTURIES Most players only compete in a handful of ICC U19 Men’s CWC matches in their lives, so racking up hundreds can be difficult to do. England’s Jack Burnham and India’s Dhawan currently share the record, with three each. Burnham set his across six matches in 2016, while Dhawan’s three also came in one edition of the tournament in 2004. HIGHEST PARTNERSHIP Burnham had a stellar campaign in 2016 and he holds another record alongside current England Test batter Dan Lawrence. The pair put on a mighty 303 for the second wicket in England’s match against Fiji in 2016, a game they won by 299 runs. Lawrence was named Player of the Match for his superb 174, while Burnham was not far behind by making 148. New Zealand’s BJ Watling and Brad Wilson are second on this list, after combining for 273 against Scotland in 2004. MOST WICKETS The leading wicket-takers list is packed with familiar names.  England’s Tim Bresnan, an Ashes series winner, took 25 wickets in 13 matches between 2002 and 2004, while South Africa’s left-arm paceman Wayne Parnell snared 23 in just nine. But top of the order is Zimbabwe’s Wesley Madhevere, who competed in three tournaments in 2016, 2018 and the last in 2020. The spinner has played 18 times and has 28 wickets to his name, with best figures of five for 24, but the most wickets in one tournament belongs to Bangladesh’s Enamul Haque – who took 22 in 2004. That’s three more than Wayne Holdsworth (Australia, 1988), Mushtaq Ahmed (Pakistan, 1988), Riaz Afridi (Pakistan, 2004) and Reece Topley (England, 2012). Afridi is also one of four players, alongside his compatriot Anwar Ali, Afghanistan's Shafiqullah Ghafari and Ireland’s Greg Thompson, to take two five-wicket hauls. BEST BOWLING FIGURES Australia’s Lloyd Pope tore through England’s batting line-up in Queenstown in 2018, the leg-spinner taking an incredible eight for 35 from 9.4 overs. Pope is the only player in tournament history to take eight wickets in an innings, but there are a few with seven – including current New Zealand star Trent Boult, who took seven for 20 against Malaysia in 2008. MOST CATCHES One for the wicketkeepers, India’s Sarfaraz Khan has taken the most catches in tournament history by safely grabbing 13 in 12 matches. That’s one more than West Indies’ Narsingh Deonarine and three more than Zimbabwe’s Sean Ervine.

Sports Bulletin Report Mount Maunganui (January 1, 2022):-Hosts New Zealand posted 258 for 5 runs on the board in the first Test match against Bangladesh that started at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday. Bangladesh decided to field first after winning the toss. Devon Conway returned from injury and promptly struck his second century in Test cricket, on his home debut in the format. New Zealand, as a result, finished ahead of Bangladesh on the first day in Mount Maunganui, going to stumps 258 for 5 on New Year's Day. Conway scored 122 off 227 balls with 16 fours and a six over midwicket, which brought up his fifty after lunch. He steadied New Zealand after an early wicket with a 138-run second wicket stand with Will Young, who made 52. Ebadot also got a reward at the end of the day when he had Tom Blundell bowled off the inside edge, giving Bangladesh something to be pleased about as they trudged off the ground. Much of the day had belonged to the hosts, though. Shoriful removed New Zealand's stand-in captain Tom Latham in the fourth over of the morning - the left-arm quick got one to nip back into Latham, who inside edged the ball on to his pad and it lobbed behind where wicketkeeper Liton Das dived in front of the first slip to complete the catch. It was a big wicket given Latham was averaging 90-plus against Bangladesh before this game.

Aamir Ali Janjua DUBAI, UAE:-Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 22 runs to book their place in the ACC U19 Asia Cup final. The first semi-final was played at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai on Thursday. Chasing 148 to win, Pakistan were bowled out for 125 in the last over. Right-handed Ahmed Khan coming to bat at number-seven top-scored with 36 off 74, hitting one four. Mohammad Shehzad contributed a 75-ball 30 and struck one four. For Sri Lanka, Traveen Mathew was pick of the bowlers with match figures of four for 14 in 10 overs. Captain Dunith Wellalage picked three for 31. Earlier, Pakistan pacers led by Zeeshan Zameer dismantled the Sri Lanka top and middle-order. Zeeshan who took five wickets in the last-ball win over India, was once again the destroyer-in-chief. The right-armer took four wickets for 32 runs. Zeeshan received admirable support from pacers Ahmed and Awais Ali who took two wickets apiece for 26 and 28 runs, respectively. Sri Lanka were reeling at 70 for eight at one stage. A 47-run ninth-wicket stand between Matheesha Pathirana (31) and Yasiru Rodrigo (31 not out) took the score to 117. The last wicket pair added 30 more runs to take the score to 147 before Sri Lanka were bowled out with 31 balls in their 50-over quota left unused. Scores in brief: Sri Lanka U19 beat Pakistan U19 by 22 runs Sri Lanka U19 147 all out, 44.5 overs (Matheesha Pathirana 32, Yasiru Rodrigo 31; Zeeshan Zameer 4-32, Ahmed Khan 2-26, Awais Ali 2-28) Pakistan U19 125 all out, 49.3 overs (Ahmed Khan 36, Mohammad Shehzad 30; Traveen Mathew 4-14, Dunith Wellalage 3-31)

Special Report LAHORE (December 31, 2021):-A year that commenced with a demoralising innings defeat at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch finished on a high with a 3-0 T20I series win over two-time former T20 world champions West Indies in Karachi. According to media department of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Between the two series in a 12-month period, Pakistan won three Test series and drew one, and also reached the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup where the penultimate over swung the match in Australia’s favour who went on to win their maiden T20 world title in Dubai. Overall, in the 2021 calendar year, Pakistan won seven of their nine Tests, lost four of the six ODIs and ended up on the winning side in 20 off the 29 T20Is. In the preceding calendar year, which was marred by Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan had won one out of five Tests, two out of three ODIs and seven off the 11 T20Is. The matches that left everlasting memories in the minds of the fans came in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup where Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets as well as New Zealand and Afghanistan by five wickets apiece. These wins were followed by 45 runs and 72 runs victories over Namibia and Scotland, respectively. The performances rejuvenated the fans as the entire nation got behind the boys in greens, by cheering and backing them throughout the competition. In the match against India on 24 October at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India, opting to bat first, were decimated by Shaheen Shah Afridi who finished with figures of three for 31 as the traditional rivals finished at 151 for seven. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were in their brilliant best, scoring 68 not out and 79 not out as Pakistan achieved victory with more than two overs to spare. This victory followed a five-wicket win over New Zealand that saw Haris Rauf grabbing four for 22 and Mohammad Rizwan (33), Shoaib Malik (26 not out) and Asif Ali (27) making valuable contributions. The match against Afghanistan, Pakistan’s third in six days, will always be remembered for Asif Ali’s four sixes in the penultimate over that earned the 2009 champions a five-wicket win. Babar Azam was the other notable scorer in a 148-run chase, scoring 51. The interim set-up of Saqlain Mushtaq (head coach), Matthew Hayden (batting consultant) and Vernon Philander (bowling coach) contributed in the complete turnaround of the Pakistan side, which looked for relax, composed, determined and resilient. Of course, Babar Azam also had a lion’s share in the success of the side has he showed great leadership and lead by example and with performance. Victory over Bangladesh in the second Test at Sher-e-Bangla was by no means less entertaining, thrilling and exciting as Pakistan romped to victory by an innings and eight runs in the final session of the match in which only 63.2 overs were bowled in the first two days and third day’s play was washed out. Pakistan’s 95 runs victory over South Africa in Rawalpindi was equally sweet. Not only Hasan Ali took a 10-for in his comeback series after a career-threatening back injury, Mohammad Rizwan stroked an unbeaten 115 in the second innings to lift Pakistan from a precarious 143 for seven in the second innings to 298 all-out that set the visitors a 370-run target. While there were heart-warming wins, there were, at least, a couple of heartbreaks as well. Pakistan narrowly lost the Jamaica Test against the West Indies by one-wicket in August that ultimately denied Pakistan a second successive series victory in the Caribbean. Then, on 11 November in Dubai, the ghost of 2010 T20 World Cup came back to haunt Pakistan when Matthew Wade struck Shaheen Shah Afridi for three successive sixes in the penultimate over to earn a five-wicket victory for Australia, who had needed 37 off the last three overs and 22 from the final 12 deliveries. From a player perspective in the ODIs, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman deserved to end up on the winning sides for their breathtaking innings, but that wasn’t to be. Babar’s 139-ball 158 against England in Birmingham went in vain as England triumphed by three wickets to win the series 3-0, while Fakhar Zaman’s 193 from 155 balls with 18 fours and 10 sixes failed to help Pakistan cross the line at Centurion where South Africa won by 17 runs. Pakistan won the series 2-1. In Test cricket, Abid Ali finished as the pick of Pakistan batters with 695 runs in nine Tests. He was followed by Fawad Alam (571), Azhar Ali (549), Mohammad Rizwan (455) and Babar Azam (416 runs). Amongst the bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi took 47 wickets, followed by Hasan Ali (41), Nauman Ali (19), Sajid Khan (18) and Faheem Ashraf (10). In the six ODIs, No.1 ranked Babar Azam topped the batting chart with 405 runs, followed by Fakhar Zaman (365), Imam-ul-Haq (189) and Mohammad Rizwan (134). Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler with 13 wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged eight wickets. No.3-ranked Mohammad Rizwan stole the T20I batting honours by amassing 1,326 runs in 29 matches with one century and 12 half-centuries, including a 52-ball 67 against Australia in Dubai after spending 30 hours in a hospital due to a chest infection prior to the match. Babar Azam, who finished as the second-ranked batter, contributed 939 runs whereas Fakhar Zaman contributed 415 runs. Haris Rauf established his credentials as a successful white-ball bowler by finishing at the top with Hasan Ali on 25 wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi was once again amongst wickets with 23. Shadab Khan took 20 wickets. These numbers could have been more impressive had the three ODIs and five T20Is against New Zealand, two T20Is against England in September/October and three ODIs against the West Indies gone ahead as planned. However, New Zealand abandoned the tour on the day of the series opener citing security concerns and England followed suit. Both the boards later agreed to tour Pakistan in 2022 along with the West Indies, who had to return home following a Covid-19 outbreak in their ranks that left them depleted and under-strength for the ICC World Cup Super League ODIs. With Australia already scheduled to tour Pakistan for three Tests, three ODIs and one T20I in March/April 2022, Pakistan braces for one of the busiest and heaviest home international cricket calendar year with as many as eight Tests, 11 ODIs and 13 T20Is lined-up. Separately, Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka for Tests, ODI and the ACC T20 Cup, before they participate in October’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Contrary to the men’s side, the national women’s side had a forgettable calendar year, winning only three of their 13 ODIs and one of their six T20Is. However, more importantly, they qualified for the ICC Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2022 as well as the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. At the pathways level, Pakistan Shaheens welcomed 2021 with two consecutive victories against New Zealand A then toured Sri Lanka in October/November. In both the four-day matches, Sri Lanka A held their nerves to hold them to draws, while in the only completed 50-over match, Shaheens won by six wickets. Pakistan U19 then played in the ACC U19 Asia Cup in which they defeated Afghanistan, India and UAE in group matches but lost to Sri Lanka in the semi-final. In a year when a number of international sport events continued to be affected by Covid-19, HBL Pakistan Super League 6 was no different. After 14 matches in February/March in Karachi, the remaining 20 matches had to be played in Abu Dhabi in June where Multan Sultans clinched their maiden title when they defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs. Apart from the HBL PSL 6, the PCB organised nine other domestic tournaments in which 267 matches were played across Pakistan. Away from on-field action, Pakistan achieved two major successes when they were awarded hosting rights of the ACC 50-over Asia Cup in 2023 as well as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan last staged an ACC event in 2008, while the last ICC event was in 1996, which they co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka. The awarding of the two events was a testament of Pakistan security agencies successes as the world eventually recognised security is no more an issue. Legendary Abdul Qadir and Fazal Mahmood were inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame where they will join Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Zaheer Abbas, who were the initial inductees by virtue of being part of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. There was also a change of guard in the second half of 2021 when Ehsan Mani completed his three-year term and was succeeded by former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja. After Chief Executive Wasim Khan also decided to step down from his role in September, the PCB, through a robust recruitment process, appointed experienced finance and sports administrator Faisal Hasnain as the new Chief Executive.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-From 2010 onwards, a trend developed at the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup as two sides dominated. Between them, India and Australia claimed three of the six titles, while finishing as losing finalists four times between them. Pakistan were the only other team to make it to more than one final in the decade, twice coming up short in the big game, but there were also some new names on the trophy as South Africa, the West Indies and Bangladesh all won the title for the first time. 2010 Having won two of the first four ICC U19 Men’s CWCs, Australia then went six years without reaching the final until the event in New Zealand. Spearheaded by the likes of Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood, they knocked out the hosts in the quarter-finals, Sri Lanka in the semis, and then Hazlewood’s four for 30 saw them to a 25-run win over Pakistan in the final. South Africa’s Dominic Hendricks was the star of the tournament, however, racking up 391 runs in just six innings at an average just a shade under 100 for a side that finished fifth, losing only to Sri Lanka at the quarter-final stage. England also went out at the quarter-final stage, despite a team featuring Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. 2012 Two years on from lifting the trophy for a third time, Australia hosted a second tournament, getting all the way to the final before falling to India. India did not do it the easy way, scraping past a Pakistan side captained by Babar Azam by one wicket in the quarter-final as Harmeet Singh and Sandeep Sharma saw them home before the same duo helped set up a nine-run win over New Zealand in the semi-final. They then powered to a six-wicket win over Australia in the final, skipper Unmukt Chand making an unbeaten 111 to get the better of the hosts despite Will Bosisto’s 87 not out. Bosisto finished the tournament with 276 runs and was dismissed just once. Among others to shine were Bangladesh’s Anamul Haque who topped the run charts with 365, while Reece Topley was the top wicket-taker with 19 at an average of 9.10 for an England team that finished fifth. 2014 A new name appeared on the trophy in 2014 as South Africa emerged victorious in the UAE, led by captain and Player of the Series Aiden Markram. With 370 runs in six innings including a pair of centuries and an unbeaten 66 in the final, Markram was exceptional for a South Africa side that also featured Kagiso Rabada. They won every game emphatically, with Rabada’s six for 25 the pick of the performances in an 80-run win over Australia in the semi-final. Pakistan were their opponents in the final, with Imam-ul-Haq outstanding for them, but Rabada got him for 12 in the final and a total of 131 was never close to being enough. 2016 South Africa went from champions to being knocked in the first round as the 2016 edition provided shocks aplenty, none more so than Namibia beating their neighbours in the group stage. New Zealand were the other team upset in the groups in Bangladesh, beaten by Nepal, to set up some intriguing quarter-finals. In the end it was the West Indies and India who made it to the final, with Shimron Hetmyer captaining the former to their first title. Along the way they knocked out hosts Bangladesh in the semi-finals, despite 60 from Mehedy Hasan Miraz, the Player of the Tournament, and it was fast bowler Alzarri Joseph who was the key man for the side from the Caribbean with 13 wickets. 2018 India claimed a fourth title in 2018 thanks in large part to a dominant top order. Captained by opener Prithvi Shaw and with Shubman Gill coming in at three, it is no surprise that India thrived in New Zealand. They won every game convincingly, Australia’s eight-wicket defeat in the final as close as anyone came to troubling them. Gill was the star, with 372 runs, while Shaw made 264 and his opening partner Manjot Kalra joined the party with an unbeaten 101 in the final. As well as the Indian batters, this tournament also saw the emergence of Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took 12 wickets in just five matches for Pakistan, while Afghanistan produced their best result in an ICC U19 Men’s CWC as they got to the semi-finals before losing to Australia. 2020 The last edition of the ICC U19 Men’s CWC saw another team win the title for the first time as Bangladesh got the better of India in the final. Shoriful Islam, who has since received full international honours, and 2022 skipper Rakibul Hasan starred with the ball for Bangladesh as they knocked off South Africa and then New Zealand to reach the final. They faced an India team who had won every game with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal outstanding throughout. He top-scored for India in every game on his way to 400 runs and the Player of the Tournament award, but his 88 in the final was not enough in a three-wicket loss for the four-time champions. Others to shine were Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi who took 17 wickets including four in the final to finish as the top wicket-taker, while Jayden Seales, who has since gone onto star at Test level for the West Indies, earned a spot in the Team of the Tournament for his fast bowling. The event also saw Japan and Nigeria make their debuts in their first ICC World Cups.