Sports Bulletin

ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk):-Shoaib Malik will miss the third T20 against Bangladesh and will leave the national T20 squad due to illness of his son Mirza Azan Malik. According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) media department, Shoaib not be available for the third T20 International match against Bangladesh. Shoaib Malik will leave Dhaka for Dubai at 10 am local time tomorrow. He will leave Dhaka at 6.30 pm and return home via Dubai. However, the National Twenty20 Squad will leave Dhaka via Dubai tomorrow at 6:30 pm. Spinners Emad Wasim and Usman Qadir will return home after staying with their families in Dubai for a few days. The national test squad will leave Dhaka for Chittagong tomorrow at 3 pm The first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played in Chittagong from November 26. Bowling consultant Vernon Philander will leave the squad after the first Test. He will leave for South Africa on December 1. The second and final Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played in Dhaka from December 4

BIPIN DANI West Indies debutant Jeremy Solozano is "most-likely" to be out of the first ongoing Test match against Sri Lanka. The 26-year-old left-handed batsman was taken off the field on a stretcher and transferred to a Nawaloka Hospital from the Galle Stadium in an ambulance for scans, after being hit on the helmet while fielding at short leg. "He is better now and scan-reports are also normal and may be discharged on Monday after doing the concussion tests. He was unconscious for a while and therefore these concussions tests are mandatory", one of the sources, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo. A neurosurgeon having speciality in neck pain , back pain and headache is looking after the player.    From his hospital bed Jeremy Solozano spoke to his father Michael in Trinidad and made him aware about the injury. "Yes, I got a call from him and he is better now", Michael Solozano, who has been his mentor, said to this Reporter. Obviously, the family was anxious when they woke up with the news about the injury. The family was relieved when a phone call from Trinidad was made to Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the chairman of the medical panel, who made his father aware about the player's recovery. Jeremy Solozano, who wore a helmet while fielding at short-leg, but this has been his regular fielding position, informs his childhood coach David Furlone. "He fields at short-leg position for the Trinidad team also", he said over the telephone. The coach got Jeremy's injury news from team's wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva, who also plays for Trinidad.

Sports Bulletin Report Harare, Zimbabwe (November 22, 2021):-Pakistan only managed to get 20 runs in the first 6 overs of Power-play and also lost the wicket of opener Ayesha Zafar to a run-out, as starting the innings after losing the toss. The runs were hard to come by for Pakistan with the bowlers keeping it tight even after fielding restrictions were lifted. Bangladesh eventually reaped the rewards for their brilliant bowling, with the wicket of Muneeba Ali triggering a mini-collapse. In a span of four overs, Pakistan lost four wickets for just seven runs. Ritu Moni scalped the wickets of Ali and Omaima Sohail in a span of three balls while Nahida Akter sent skipper Javeria Khan and Iram Javed in consecutive overs. Pakistan, who were 42/1 at one stage, had lost half their side with just 49 runs on board. Pakistan needed something special to get out of the situation. Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz answered the call, stitching together a stunning 137-run stand to bail Pakistan out of trouble. Both the batters brought up their half-centuries. While Dar got out in the 49th over, Riaz remained unbeaten on 61* to help Pakistan post a respectable total of 201/7. In response, Anam Amin struck early for Pakistan, dismissing Murshida Khatun in the Powerplay. Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque put on 70 runs for the second wicket but were made to work very hard for their runs. The bowlers were splendid in the first 10 overs, giving away just one boundary. The two batters targetted Fatima Sana, who gave 17 runs in her opening two overs. Nida Dar and Nashra Sandhu bowled very well in the middle overs to put Pakistan in a strong position going into the slog overs. Bowling continuously between overs 17 and 34, they gave away only 34 runs, with Sandhu accounting for the wickets of Akhter and skipper Nigar Sultana. Bangladesh were in further trouble once they lost the set batter Fargana Hoque in the 36th over. Needed 89 runs in the last 10 overs, Rumana Ahmed and Ritu Moni finally started to find the boundaries. Ahmed found the ropes twice in the 44th over against Diana Baig while Ritu Moni smashed Sana for three consecutive fours. However, three wickets in four balls threatened to derail all the momentum as the required run rate climbed over 10. However, Ahmed calmed the nerves in the dugout, hitting Sohail for four boundaries in the 48th over. Ahmed got to her fifty in the final over with Salma Khatun keeping her company with an unbeaten 11-ball 16 as Bangladesh clinched the thriller with two balls to spare. THAILAND BEAT ZIMBABWE Thailand opted to bat first in the second ICC Women's World Cup qualifier of the day in Harare against hosts Zimbabwe. Natthakan Chantham and Sornnarin Tippoch consolidated the innings after the early wicket of Nattaya Boochatham, who was out bowled by Esther Mbofana. They looked set for their half-centuries but fell short of the milestone, with Loreen Tshuma scalping both the batters in consecutive overs. Skipper Naruemol Chaiwai and Nannapat Koncharoenkai navigated Thailand through the rest of the middle overs, adding 69 runs for the fourth wicket. Chanida Sutthiruang's 28-ball 35* helped Thailand post a solid target of 248 for Zimbabwe to chase down. In response, Zimbabwe got off to a slow yet steady start, with the openers putting on 49 for the first wicket in 17 overs. After the fall of the wicket, Sharne Mayers and Josephine Nkomo upped the scoring rate, stitching 59 runs in 70 balls. Once Mayers fell short of a fifty by three runs, Nkomo Mary-Anne Musonda started to take the attack to the Thailand bowlers. Both the batters brought up their respective fifties and brought the equation down to 65 in 10 overs with eight wickets still in hand. Suleeporn Laomi struck for Thailand in the 41st over, breaking the 77-run partnership that came in just 75 balls. The wicket derailed all the momentum that Zimbabwe had built as they struggled to find boundaries in the death. In fact, they found the ropes just once in the last nine overs. Despite Musonda batting till the end of the innings, Zimbabwe fell short by 9 runs as Thailand put their first points on board.

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (November 21, 2021):-Three Sri Lanka players at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2021 have tested positive for COVID-19 and are isolating. The players tested positive following a screening of all team members after one player showed mild symptoms, as per the bio-secure protocols in place to ensure the safety of all participants in the nine-team event, which got underway in Harare today. Two of the players are experiencing mild symptoms, whilst the third is asymptomatic. All three are isolating and receiving the appropriate medical care. The remainder of the Sri Lanka squad, are negative but are currently isolating as a precaution and will be re-tested ahead of their opening match against the Netherlands on Tuesday. ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said the event would be proceeding as planned: “We have playing squads of 15 at the event, which allows for injuries and illness, including COVID-19 to be managed, and in addition teams have had the option of bringing traveling reserves with them. As you would expect, the remainder of the squad are being closely monitored and they will all be re-tested ahead of taking to the field on Tuesday. “The event bio-security plan provides us with protocols to manage positive tests effectively with the intention of enabling the event to proceed whilst keeping all other players and participants safe.” Sri Lanka play the Netherlands in their opening match on Tuesday with their remaining Group A matches on Saturday (vs the West Indies) and Monday (vs Ireland). Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Zimbabwe and the USA form Group B, with three sides from each group making it to the Super Six stage, in which the final placings will be decided. The tournament decides three qualifiers for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to be held in New Zealand from 4 March to 3 April, joining five teams who have already qualified through the ICC Women’s Championship – Australia, England, India, South Africa and hosts New Zealand. The three qualifiers as well as the next two teams will also ensure places in the next ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) along with the top five from last time, as the number of teams in the third cycle of the IWC goes up from eight to 10 teams.

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (November 21, 2021):-Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been fined 15 per cent of his match fees for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday. Afridi was found to have breached Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.” In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Afridi, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period. The incident occurred in the third over of Bangladesh’s innings, when Afridi fielded the ball on his follow through and threw it at Afif Hossain, hitting him on the foot, when the batter was within the popping crease and not intending to take a run. Afridi admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Neeyamur Rashid of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees and ratified by the ICC Cricket Operations department as per the COVID-19 interim playing regulations. There was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Gazi Sohel and Sohail Tanveer, third umpire Masudur Rahman and fourth official Sharfudoulla Ibne Shahid levelled the charges. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Ali Ahmed LAHORE (November 21, 2021):-Central Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa teams have been fined for maintaining a slow over rate during their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class match that ended at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan on Saturday evening. In the drawn game, Central Punjab were found three overs short of their target after taking into account time allowances and, as such, were charged under Article 2.22 of the PCB Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with the minimum over-rate offences. As such, all members of the playing XI were fined PKR28,000. Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were found two overs short of their target. As such, all members of the playing XI were fined PKR 16,000. Central Punjab captain Ali Zaryab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa captain Khalid Usman accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Mohammad Javed. The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Qaiser Waheed and Saqib Khan.

Sports Bulletin Report DUBHAI (November 21, 2021):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) has congratulated Ranjan Madugalle on becoming the first Match Referee to officiate in 200 Test matches. Madugalle, who is the Chief Referee of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, reached the landmark in the first Test between Sri Lanka and the West Indies in Galle. To mark the achievement, he was presented with mementos on behalf of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the ICC by SLC Vice President Dr Jayantha Dharmadasa and SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, respectively. Apart from officiating in 200 men’s Test matches, 369 men’s ODIs and 125 men’s T20Is, Madugalle has also supervised 14 women’s ODIs and eight women’s T20Is. Adrian Griffith, ICC Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees: “Ranjan has been a tremendous asset over the years and a significant source of inspiration for others. We have benefitted from his experience and work ethic, as someone you can turn to for guidance. “On behalf of the ICC, I would like to thank Ranjan for his years of service to the game and congratulate him on a wonderful career. We hope to continue benefiting from his expertise in the years to come.” Ranjan Madugalle: “It is an honour and a privilege to be officiating in my 200th Test match, for it is not a milestone I had never imagined I would reach. Whilst it has taken a long time, it seems just the other day that I had taken on this role, because I have enjoyed every bit of the journey. “This is obviously what dreams are made of and I continue to be passionately involved with the game and in my role while liaising with my colleagues from the world over. “The passion obviously comes from my time as a player and it is my good fortune to have remained connected so closely with the game. “I thank the International Cricket Council, Sri Lanka Cricket and all my colleagues over the years for all their help. My thanks are also due to my family and friends, without whose support it would not have been possible to have come this far.” Emirates ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Jeff Crowe: ‘It is difficult just to think of 200 Test matches against your name, let alone be on-duty for all those days and years over four decades. “It is an astonishing statistic to be in office and reflects his passion for cricket. Ranjan is a Five Star General when it comes to serving the game. “On behalf of all the Match Referees and Umpires on the ICC panels, I congratulate Ranjan on reaching the milestone and wish him many more.” Madugalle enjoyed a decade-long international career for Sri Lanka as a cricketer, in which he played each of his country’s first 18 Test Matches and enthralled spectators with his stylish stroke-play. He captained Sri Lanka in his final two Tests. He was appointed an ICC Match Referee in 1993. His first assignment was the Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi that December with a first ODI shortly afterwards. A regular at all major ICC tournaments, he has served as ICC Match Referee for four ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Finals (1999, 2003, 2015 and 2019), three ICC Champions Trophy Finals (2004, 2006 and 2013) and four ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Finals (2007, 2010, 2016 and 2021).

Aamir Ali Janjua DUBAI (November 21, 2021):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed Geoff Allardice has been appointed as the organisation’s permanent CEO after more than eight months in the role on an interim basis. Allardice, a former first-class cricketer, was the ICC General Manager, Cricket for eight years having previously held a similar role at Cricket Australia. Greg Barclay, ICC Chair said: “I am delighted that Geoff has agreed to take the role of ICC CEO on a permanent basis. He has shown tremendous leadership during an extremely challenging period culminating in the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. “Geoff has unrivaled knowledge of the global cricket landscape and its stakeholders and has consistently demonstrated he is the right person to work in partnership with our Members to shape the sport for the next decade as we embark on delivering a new strategy and our next commercial rights cycle.”  Geoff Allardice, ICC CEO added: “It’s a great privilege to be appointed as the CEO of the ICC and I would like to thank Greg and the ICC Board for the opportunity to lead the sport as we enter an exciting new phase of growth. “My continued focus will be on doing the right thing for our sport and working closely with Members to deliver long-term success and sustainability. I would also like to thank the ICC staff for their commitment and support over the last eight months and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve  cricket with such a talented team.”

Sports Bulletin Report Harare, Zimbabwe (November 21, 2021):-After by a comprehensive win over Ireland Women in the warm-up match, Pakistan Women enter the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier with confidence. The national women’s team will play the opening match of the nine-team tournament against Bangladesh Women at Old Hararians Sports Club on Sunday. Pakistan, who are drawn in Group B, will then play Thailand Women, Zimbabwe Women and USA Women on 23, 27 and 29 November. The top three teams from the two groups will qualify for the Super 6 stage, from where top three teams will join the five sides – four teams that secured qualification by finishing in top four on the ICC Women’s Championship points table and event hosts New Zealand – for the event proper in March-April next year. Each and every match in the tournament holds significance as the points earned in the first round group matches will be transferred to the Super Six stage. Stressing on the importance of starting well, Pakistan captain Javeria Khan said, “Our match against Bangladesh is very important as it will set the tone of the tournament for us. As is the format, we will be carrying forward the points that we earn in the group stage, so this match is vital for us. “Every win uplifts the side and it was very good to see everyone contributing in the win against Ireland in the warm-up. This warm-up match helped us in accessing the conditions here and it provided us welcome match practice.” Pakistan squad: Javeria Khan (captain), Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wicketkeeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) Reserves players: Aiman Anwar, Maham Tariq and Rameen Shamim.

BIPIN DANI Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has hired the services of a new computer analyst for the senior national team for the upcoming series against the West Indies, it is learnt. According to highly placed sources at the SLC headquarters, Shirantha Niroshana has taken over and joined the team bio-bubble in Galle.  "Sri Lanka's Brain Centre head Prad Navaratnam was an interim arrangement",  a top SLC official, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo said. Prad has also resigned from the job after his last assignment with the team in the World Cup. He resigned on November 9.    This is Shirantha Niroshana's first assignment with the senior men's team, though he has worked with the women's team in the past. Niroshana has also an ICC level 2 cricket coaching qualification and more than 10 years domestic and international analysis experience and 5 years cricket coaching experience at school level. He has also worked as an analyst with the Burgher Recreation Club. The 15-members, who were engaged with the 4-day match against the visiting Windies team in Colombo, joined the squad in Galle on Wednesday night. They are not required to undergo quarantine as they have arrived from the bio-bubble. These 15 players with the other seven members- captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, and Praveen Jaywickrama who practiced for two days, will train till the first Test begins from today (Sunday).