Sports Bulletin

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-Jaffna Kings leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been in superb form in the ongoing season of Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2021, having already picked five wickets in three games. But the Sri Lanka international, hopes to get wicket of one of his favourite batsmen Virat Kohli one day. I an interview he says: "I would love to get my favourite cricketer Virat Kohli’s wicket someday. I also want to pick Babar Azam and Glenn Maxwell's wickets as well," Hasaranga said when asked to name the players who he wishes to dismiss in his career Hasaranga was the leading wicket-taker at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021, with 16 scalps in 8 games, despite Sri Lanka not reaching past the group stages. On being asked about the reasons behind his personal success, Hasaranga said that he always try to do the best for his team. "When I am bowling, I always try to take wickets. When I am in the national team, I always try to do my best for the team. That's why I am successful," he said. Confident Hasaranga does not want feel the pressure of media and fans comparing him with former Sri Lanka legends Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath. "I am always motivated to perform. I don't feel any pressure. I don't want to be the next Muralitharan or the next Herath. I want to be the first Hasaranga," he said. With the rise of T20 format, it is largely believed that cricket is becoming a batsman's game. But Hasaranga explained how the spinners can prove to be match winners in the shortest format. "Leg spinners can do anything. Because, in the T20 cricket, batsmen are going to hit big shots on each delivery. We have a lot of variations. Sometimes, we can get hit for 40-50 runs in a match. But in the next match, we find a way to get back and pick 4-5 wickets. Leg-spinners can win matches," he added. The 24-year-old bowler went on to credit Lanka Premier League for the rise of Sri Lanka Cricket in the past few years. "Last time, we saw a lot of youngsters doing a good job in Lanka Premier League. In this kind of tournament, we always get a lot of good players. That is why Sri Lanka Cricket is better than last few years. These kinds of tournaments are always good for the growth of sport in a nation," Hasaranga signed off.

Bipin Dani Sri Lanka's women team players and support staff will spend 10 days in isolation in Colombo in a Level 1 isolation facility, it is learnt. According to highly placed sources in the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board, the squad which was stranded in Harare because of the Covid-19 outbreak returned on Friday. Level-1 hotels are specially certified hotels, where increased hygienic measures and other rules are applied. It's a certification given by the ministry of health. The whole hotel or wings are exclusively used for bio bubble maintenance. "All squad members are now tested negative and they will be tested again frequently", the source, speaking exclusively over the telephone, said.  "Yes, they came by a direct Chartered flight (Air Seychelles)", the source confirmed. Sri Lankan women's team had been stranded in Zimbabwe since ICC Women's CWC Qualifier was abandoned amid Covid-related uncertainty. The cost of the team's delayed departure may be shared by the ICC and the SLC. 

Karachi (Sports Report):-Following Northern’s innings win over table-toppers Sindh, the other two Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 round-eight matches also brought results with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa defeating Southern Punjab by seven and Central Punjab overpowering Balochistan by five wickets respectively. At the completion of the eight-round, the battle for the 25-29 December final at the National Stadium Karachi has intensified with Sindh (102 points) barely maintaining their top-spot (better net run-rate) against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - 102 points. Northern (101 points) are a mere point behind at number three following back-to-back wins in the seventh and eight rounds while Central Punjab (100 points) are a point behind Northern with 100 points. The ninth-round that will commence from Sunday is set to provide real excitement with the four top-ranked teams giving their all to outdo each other in order to seal one of the top two spots to ensure a place in the five-day final. Over at the State Bank of Pakistan Stadium in the match between Southern Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which was being live streamed on PCB’s YouTube channel, Sahibzada Farhan’s unbeaten 112 took Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to a convincing seven-wicket win over Southern Punjab. Farhan who is the season’s top run-getter, posted his third century of the tournament while taking his tally to 860 runs in 14 innings which his stupendous effort today. Farhan was instrumental in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s 220-run fourth innings chase today, he added 167 runs in the match winning third-wicket partnership with opener Ashfaq Ahmed who scored 77 (151 balls, eight fours) before his unfortunate run out. Ashfaq and Farhan rescued the side after pacer Muhammad Ilyas had taken the first two wickets with only 18 runs on the board. Farhan hit 19 fours and one six in his 159-ball effort. The resounding victory earned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 21 points, Southern Punjab had a match tally of four points. Central Punjab registered their second win of the season as they beat Balochistan by five wickets at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex. Resuming at the overnight score of 62 for one chasing 212 for win, Central Punjab crashed to 104 for five and Balochistan looked favourites to register their first victory of the season at this stage. However, Balochistan hopes were extinguished through an unbroken sixth-wicket 108-run partnership between Muhammad Saad and Saif Badar. Saad played a captain’s knock scoring 63 off 123 balls (eight fours). Saif remained unbeaten with 55 off 69 balls (five fours, one six). Akif Javed and Kashif Bhatti took two wickets each. Central Punjab collected 21 points with their outright victory while Balochistan had to settle for seven points. Scores in brief: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Southern Punjab by seven wickets - State Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Southern Punjab 166 for 9, 57.1 overs (Mohammad Imran 64, Yousuf Babar 28, Tayyab Tahir 26; Arshad Iqbal 4-41, Asif Afridi 2-36) and 40 for no loss, 12 overs. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 281 all out, 89.2 overs (Arshad Iqbal 62, Sahibzada Farhan 60; Muhammad Ilyas 4-71, Salman Ali Agha 3-32, Aamer Yamin 3-54) and 223 for 3, 56.5 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 112, Ashfaq Ahmed 77; Mohammad Ilyas 2-61) Match points: Southern Punjab – four, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - 21. Central Punjab beat Balochistan by five wickets - National Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Balochistan 325 all out, 104.4 overs (Shan Masood 102, Imran Butt 65, Kashif Bhatti 53; Zafar Gohar 5-126) and 148 all out, 33.2 overs (Gohar Faiz 36, Bismillah Khan 27, Umar Akmal 27; Muhammad Ali 5-50, Zafar Gohar 2-43) Central Punjab 262 all out, 98.5 overs (Rizwan Hussain 50, Ali Zaryab 48, Saif Badar 44; Kashif Bhatti 7-85, Raza-ul-Hasan 2-99) and 212 for 5, 59 overs (Mohammad Saad 63 not out, Saif Badar 55 not out; Akif Javed 2-43, Kashif Bhatti 2-83) Match points: Balochistan - seven, Central Punjab - 21.

Colombo, Sri Lanka (SB Report):-Jaffna Kings reigned supreme in their match against Kandy Warriors in a rain curtailed Lanka Premier League match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday as Thisara Perera's Jaffna Kings won a high-scoring game by 14 runs via DLS method. The run riot was triggered by terrific half centuries by Jaffna Kings Captain Thisara Perera who bludgeoned 53 off just 21 balls decked with 6 sixes and 2 boundaries and Avishka Fernando who pounded 53 off 23 illuminated by 7 sixes and helped their team post a total of 181 for 6 in 14 overs in the rain-curtailed contest. Leading the run chase for the Kandy Warriors was Rovman Powell with an astounding 19-ball 61 laced with 2 boundaries and 7 sixes, while Charith Asalanka smashed 42 off 19 balls. Asalanka and Kennar Lewis set up the chase with an opening partnership of 64 runs in 6 overs. Thereafter, Lewis and Powell added 81 runs for the second wicket. However, the Warriors couldn't maintain their momentum following Powell's dismissal in the 12th over and eventually fell short of their target.

Dubai, UAE (Aamir Ali Janjua):-India opener Mayank Agarwal and New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel have made huge progress in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings after outstanding performances in the second Test of their ICC World Test Championship series in Mumbai. Agarwal’s Player of the Match effort of 150 and 62 has helped him gain 30 spots and reach 11th position in the latest weekly update to the men’s rankings which is carried out on Wednesdays and includes all matches ending on Tuesdays. He is just one spot below a career-best 10th position that he first attained in November 2019. Mumbai-born Patel, who became only the third player to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, emulating Jim Laker and Anil Kumble, has moved up 23 slots to 38th after finishing with 14 wickets in the match. The left-arm spinner’s previous best ranking was 53rd and he had started the series in 62nd position. Others to move up in the rankings after the Mumbai Test are India opener Shubman Gill (up 21 places to 45th), fast bowler Mohammad Siraj (up four places to 41st) and New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell (up 26 places to 78th). Ravichandran Ashwin has bridged the gap with top-ranked bowler Pat Cummins after finishing with four wickets in each innings in India’s 372-run victory. Ashwin has gained 43 rating points to reach a total of 883 and is 67 points ahead of third-placed Josh Hazlewood. He has moved up one place to second among all-rounders even as his compatriot Ravindra Jadeja has slipped to fourth in the list led by West Indies’ Jason Holder. Holder has gained one spot to reach 14th among bowlers in Wednesday’s update, that also considers performances from the Galle Test that Sri Lanka won by 164 runs to complete a 2-0 series victory and remain atop the ICC World Test Championship points table powered by MRF Tyres. Kraigg Brathwaite (up 10 places to 39th) and Nkrumah Bonner (up 17 places to 42nd) are the batters to move up for the West Indies but the one to gain the most after the Galle Test is Player of the Match Dhananjaya de Silva, who has advanced 12 places to 21st after his unbeaten 155 in the second innings. Spinners Lasith Embuldeniya and Ramesh Mendis too have made substantial gains. Embuldeniya has gained five slots to reach 32nd position after finishing with seven wickets in the match, while Mendis has progressed 18 places to 39th with an 11-wicket match haul.

Karachi (Sports Report):-Northern recorded their second successive victory of the season to ensure that they stay in the hunt for a place in the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22. Placed fifth before the start of the ongoing eight-round, Northern defeated the table-toppers heading into the round Sindh, inside three days. All three matches are set to provide results with both Central Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa favourites to attain their fourth innings targets tomorrow (day-four). Northern bowlers were on song on day-three as they sent Sindh packing for 182 in 58.3 overs in their second innings to register a comprehensive innings and 39-run victory at the UBL Sports Complex. Resuming at the overnight 105 for one, Sindh folded for the addition of a mere 77 runs with pacer Ather Mahmood taking four wickets in the second innings to follow his first innings four-for. Ather’s new-ball partner Kashif Ali took three while Zaid Alam took two wickets. Omair-Bin-Yousuf with 52 runs was the top-scorer for Sindh in what was otherwise a disappointing batting performance. Northern who registered their second successive victory of the tournament are set to break into the top three on the points table after their resounding win as they earned a total of 23 points from the match. Sindh who were at the top of the table before the round began could only muster three points. Over at the State Bank of Pakistan Stadium in the match between Southern Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which is being live streamed on PCB’s YouTube channel, Southern Punjab scored 334 runs in their second innings after resuming at 40 for no loss to set Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a 220-run target for the fourth and final day. Umar Siddiq who opened the innings, top-scored with 92 off 176 balls (15 fours). Umar added 121 runs for the third-wicket with Salman Ali Agha who like Umar also fell in the nervous nineties. The right-handed Salman hit 14 fours in his 90 off 131 balls. All-rounder Mohammad Imran who scored a fighting fifty in the first innings made a valuable 48-run contribution in the second innings. Pacers Irfanullah Shah and Sameen Gul took four and three wickets for 68 and 98 runs respectively. Skipper Asif Afridi took two wickets. Both teams will be vying for crucial victory points on the fourth day as the game is in the grasp of both which promises and intriguing day of cricket. Over at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex, resuming at the overnight score of 178 for five, Central Punjab were rolled over for 262 in 98.5 overs with Kashif taking seven wickets for 85 runs. The left-arm-spinner collected the 23rd five-wicket haul of his first-class career in his marathon 40-over spell. Central Punjab who conceded a 63-run first innings lead, only reached 262 courtesy fighting contributions of 44 by Saif Badar and 42 not out by Zafar Gohar. Balochistan were then dismissed for a paltry 148 in 33.2 overs in their second innings with pacer Muhammad Ali doing major damage by taking five wickets for 50 runs in 11 overs. The right-armer found good support from Zafar Gohar with the left-arm-spinner following up on his first innings five-for with two wickets. Gohar Faiz with 36 was the top run-getter for Balochistan while captain Bismillah Khan and Umar Akmal scored 27 runs each. A total of 16 wickets fell in the day as Central Punjab were 62 for one when stumps were drawn for the day. They need another 150 runs tomorrow to register a much-needed victory which will keep alive their hopes of their title defence. Scores in brief: Northern beat Sindh by an innings and 39 runs - UBL Sports Complex, Karachi Sindh 98 for 9 declared, 31 overs (Omair Bin Yousuf 33, Mir Hamza 18 not out; Ather Mahmood 4-23, Kashif Ali 3-42) and 182 all out, 58.3 overs (Omair Bin Yousuf 52, Ahsan Ali 44; Ather Mahmood 4-63, Kashif Ali 3-55) Northern 319 all out, 100.1 overs (Sarmad Bhatti 145, Umar Amin 75; Tabish Khan 5-55, Sohail Khan 3-61) Match points: Sindh – three, Northern – 23 Southern Punjab vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - State Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Southern Punjab 166 for 9, 57.1 overs (Muhammad Imran 64, Yousuf Babar 28, Tayyab Tahir 26; Arshad Iqbal 4-41, Asif Afridi 2-36) and 40 for no loss, 12 overs. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 281 all out, 89.2 overs (Arshad Iqbal 62, Sahibzada Farhan 60; Muhammad Ilyas 4-71, Salman Ali Agha 3-32, Aamer Yamin 3-54) Points so far: Southern Punjab – four, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - five. Balochistan vs Central Punjab - National Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Balochistan 325 all out, 104.4 overs (Shan Masood 102, Imran Butt 65, Kashif Bhatti 53; Zafar Gohar 5-126) and 148 all out, 33.2 overs (Gohar Faiz 36, Bismillah Khan 27, Umar Akmal 27; Muhammad Ali 5-50, Zafar Gohar 2-43) Central Punjab 262 all out, 98.5 overs (Rizwan Hussain 50, Ali Zaryab 48, Saif Badar 44; Kashif Bhatti 7-85, Raza-ul-Hasan 2-99) and 62 for 1, 18 overs. Points so far: Balochistan - seven, Central Punjab - five.

Colombo, Sri Lanka (SB Report):-Opening batsman Philip Salt struck a 34-ball 62 to help Dambulla Giants defeat Colombo Stars by 18 runs in the Lanka Premier League at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The Giants posted a total of 195 for 6 off their 20 overs to which Colombo Stars replied with 177 all out off 18.5 overs. Najibullah Zadran also lit up the stadium with an innings of 54 runs from 40 balls, laced with 6 boundaries and 2 sixes. He added 31 runs with Salt before a 77-run alliance for the fifth-wicket with Skipper Dasun Shanaka, who played a brisk 25-ball 38 laced with 2 sixes and 3 boundaries. Dushmantha Chameera was the pick of the bowlers for Colombo Stars with figures of 3 for 34. The Colombo Stars began their run chase positively reaching 71 for 3 off 8.4 overs, but they couldn't keep up their momentum as they lost 2 wickets in quick succession, leaving them at 78 for 5 in 10.4 overs. Thereafter, the Stars kept losing wickets at regular intervals and eventually were bowled out for 177 in 18.5 overs. Nuwan Pradeep led the way with the ball for Dambulla Giants with figures of 3 for 50. Tharindu Ratnayake, Imran Tahir and Chamika Karunaratne picked up two wickets each in the match. Brief Scores: Dambulla Giants 195/6 (Philip Salt 62, Najibullah Zadran 54, Dushmantha Chameera 3-34) beat Colombo Stars 177 all out (Dinesh Chandimal 26, Tom Banton 23, Nuwan Pradeep 3-50) by 18 runs.

Colombo, Sri Lanka (SB Report):-Galle Gladiators got a thrilling 4-wicket win over Kandy Warriors in the fourth fixture of the Lanka Premier League at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday. Chasing 144 to win, the Gladiators got over the line with four balls to spare when Lahiru Madushanka smashed the first two deliveries of the last over for a six and a four.  The Galle Gladiators needed 26 off 14 balls when the seventh-wicket pair of Madushanka and Dhananjaya Lakshan came together, and what a breath-taking finish it turned out to be. Madushanka was unbeaten on 22 with 2 sixes and a boundary while Lakshan played a quick-fire unbeaten innings of 10 runs from 4 balls. Lakshan had also performed with the ball earlier in the match, picking up figures of 2/11. The Gladiators got off to a great start as the openers Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka put up a partnership of 62 runs in 7.3 overs. Dhanushka Gunathilaka made 45 off 33 packed with 2 sixes and 4 fours and Kusal Mendis scored 16 off 21 with 2 fours. Skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa kept up the momentum with a brisk 22 off 13 hitting 2 fours and a six. Earlier, Kandy Warriors posted a formidable total of 143 for 6 in their 20 overs. Ahmed Shehzad and Kamindu Mendis were the highlights of Warriors' batting card. Shehzad scored 56 off 51, while Mendis gathered 32 off 25. Samit Patel was the pick of the bowlers for the Gladiators with figures of 3/13. The Galle Gladiators are currently at the top of the table with 2 wins from 3 matches.

LAHORE (Press Release):-Golden star cricket club beat Mughalpura Sports Club by 6 wickets and moved in to the 2nd Round of Knock out stage of PCB Central Punjab Lahore East zone winter League. Brilliant all Round display of batting and bowling by Abdullah Ahmad of Golden star cricket Club was the main highlight of the match which was played at Township whites ground on other day. Match Summary Mughalpura Sports Cricket Club 145/ all out in 33.5 Overs (Ali Kanan 29, Ahmad Ali 27, Muhammad 25 , khuram Azeem 17;  Zamin Ali 2/23, Azzam Ul Haq 2/24, Abdullah Ahmad 2/25 ,Shaheryar wasim 2/26 while Ali Raza Took one wicket ) Golden Star Cricket Club 148/4 in 14.5 Overs ( Abdullah Ahmad 56 on 33 balls 11X4s , Zamin Ali 27, Jawad Maqsood 20, Shaheryar wasim 17 ; Rana Muhammad 2/17 while Wazir Ahamd & Muhammad took on wicket each.)

Saad Kayani KARACHI (December 8, 2021):-The Pakistan and West Indies men’s sides will gather in Karachi on Thursday for the three T20Is and as many ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League matches at the National Stadium from 13-22 December. The following is the teams’ training and media activities schedule. All training sessions will be held at the National Stadium and the media is welcomed to cover them from their designated working areas. Entry to the National Stadium will be through accreditation passes, which are now ready for collection. Accredited media are advised to collect their passes from Mr Shakeel Khan, PCB Media Accreditation and Service Officer, from the National Stadium on Thursday and Friday from 1000 to 1700. For further information, please contact Mr Shakeel Khan at +92 301 8440284. Media conferences, training and match schedule: 10 Dec – Both teams are scheduled to hold training sessions from 1930 till 2230. Before the training, West Indies head coach Phil Simmons will hold an online arrival virtual media conference. Please contact Dario Barthley to attend the session. 11 Dec – Both teams are scheduled to hold training sessions from 1930 till 2230. No media activity is planned. 12 Dec – Pakistan captain Babar Azam will hold his pre-series virtual media conference at 1100. Please contact Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, at least, two hours before the beginning of the session so the link can be provided. Later, in the evening, West Indies will hold their pre-series virtual media conference. Please contact Dario Barthley to attend the session.  Both teams will have their training sessions from 1930 till 2230 13 Dec – The first T20I will begin at 1800. The toss will take place at 1730. At the conclusion of the match, the PCB and CWI will provide video interviews from their camps. 14 Dec – The second T20I will begin at 1800. The toss will take place at 1730. At the conclusion of the match, the PCB and CWI will provide video interviews from their camps. 15 Dec – Both sides are scheduled to have optional training sessions from 1930 till 2230. No media activity is planned. 16 Dec - The third and final T20I will begin at 1800. The toss will take place at 1730. The match will be followed by the virtual media conferences of both the captains in which they will review the T20I series and preview the ODI series. 17 Dec – Both sides are scheduled to hold an optional training sessions from 1530 till 1830. For further information, please contact both the team media managers. 18 Dec – The first ODI will start at 1300, with the toss taking place at 1230. The match will be followed by post-match virtual media session. 19 Dec – Both sides are scheduled to hold an optional training sessions from 1530 till 1830. For further information, please contact both the team media managers. 20 Dec – The second ODI will start at 1300, with the toss taking place at 1230. The match will be followed by post-match virtual media session. Please contact Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi before the start of the second innings so the link can be provided. 21 Dec – Both sides are scheduled to hold an optional training sessions from 1530 till 1830. For further information, please contact both the team media managers. 22 Dec – The third ODI will start at 1300, with the toss taking place at 1230. The match will be followed by post-match virtual media session. Please contact Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi before the start of the second innings so the link can be provided.