Cricket
Challengers and Strikers register comfortable victories
Sports Bulletin Report
KARACHI (September 13, 2021): Challengers and Strikers recorded comprehensive victories over Blasters and Dynamites in the Pakistan Cup for Women’s One-Day Tournament at the Oval Academy Ground and National Stadium, Karachi on Monday.
Waheeda Akhtar starred with the ball as Challengers dismissed Blasters for 59 in 31.2 overs at the Oval Academy Ground. Waheeda who opened the bowling took four wickets for 11 runs in a match winning nine-over spell. She found great support from Anoosha Nasir, Saba Nazir and Syeda Masooma Zahra who all took two wickets each as Blasters were sent packing for a low score.
Challengers chased down the target in 21 overs with Sidra Amin and Iram Javed contributing 25 and 18 unbeaten runs respectively. Waheeda was named player of the match.
Over at the National Stadium, Strikers recorded a thumping 65-run win over Dynamites. Batting first, Strikers posted 237 for eight in their allotted 50 overs. Opener Ayesha Zafar top-scored with 65 off 66 balls, her innings included nine fours.
Kainat Imtiaz contributed 57 off 73 balls, the Strikers captain hit five fours in her innings. Ghulam Fatima and Maham Tariq took two wickets each.
Dynamites were bowled out for 172 runs in reply in 43.2 overs. Captain Muneeba Ali scored 51 off 70 balls (five fours, one six). Aliya Riaz (29) and Maham Tariq (24) were the only other batters to make significant contributions as Strikers bowlers took wickets at regular intervals.
Player of the match Tooba Hassan took four wickets for 28 runs from her leg-breaks, Fatima Khan took two wickets for 10 runs in her four overs.
Scores in Brief:
Challengers beat Blasters by six wickets
Blasters 59 all out, 31.2 overs (Sidra Nawaz 19; Waheeda Akhtar 4-11, Anoosha Nasir 2-6, Saba Nazir 2-8, Syeda Maso0ma Zahra 2-16)
Challengers 60 for 4, 21 overs (Sidra Amin 25 not out, Iram Javed 18 not out; Nida Dar 3-16)
Player of the match: Waheeda Akhtar
Strikers beat Dynamites by 65 runs
Strikers 237 for 8, 50 overs (Ayesha Zafar 65, Kainat Imtiaz 57; Ghulam Fatima 2-30, Maham Tariq 2-47)
Dynamites 172 all out, 43.2 overs (Muneeba Ali 51, Aliya Riaz 29, Maham Tariq 24; Tooba Hassan 4-28, Fatima Khan 2-10)
Player of the match: Tooba Hassan
Next matches:
15 September – ChallengersVvs Strikers, National Stadium
Dynamites Vs Blasters, Oval Academy Ground.
Hayden, Philander appointed consultant coaches for T20 World Cup
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE (September 13, 2021): Former Australian batsman Matthew Hayden and former South Africa pacer Vernon Philander have been appointed batting and bowling coaching consultants for Pakistan men’s national cricket team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board’s 36th Chairman Ramiz Raja announced on Monday.
“The national side has the potential to win the World Cup and we need to back the side selected for the global event,” he said while addressing media at the National High Performance Centre following his unopposed and unanimous election as PCB’s Chairman. “We need to fine-tune our plans. Pakistan cricket’s DNA consists fearlessness, and we need to define a proper model and provide clarity to achieve desired results.”
Ramiz Raja announced 192 cricketers with domestic contracts will see an increase of PKR100,000 in monthly retainers across all rungs. This means that domestic men’s cricketers in the 2021-22 season, which begins with the Cricket Associations T20, the Second XI competition, from 15 September at the Quetta’s Bugti Stadium, will now earn between PKR140,000 to PKR250,000 per month, which is an increase of 250 per cent for the players in the D category, the lowest category.
“It is our duty to care for our cricketers and continue to take measures which strengthen our system,” Ramiz said. “This will also play a role in ending any uncertainty surrounding the current cricket structure; the welfare of present and former cricketers is paramount to me.”
In a bid to further strengthen the age-group structure and ensure that young cricketers are fully equipped for the modern-day cricket, Mr Ramiz Raja announced plans to launch an U19 T20 league to develop cricketers from the nascent stages.
“We need to develop an environment in which we generate professional cricketers at young level,” he said. “This will help the HBL Pakistan Super League franchises as well, who are on the lookout for youngsters. I would like the former greats to coach them. We need to give push to the age-group cricketers so they can excel in the sport from the early age.”
Ramiz Raja also said that it was important to improve the quality of pitches at the grassroots level, as they are integral for the development of cricketers.
In a move that will further strengthen the academies structure and provide upcoming cricketers with the desired facilities to enhance their skillsets and improve their fitness levels, Mr Ramiz Raja said high performance centres will be established in interior Sindh and Balochistan.
Ramiz Raja New Chairman PCB
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE (September 13, 2021):-Former Pakistan captain and the member of 1992 World Cup winner team, Ramiz Raja, was elected unanimously and unopposed as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s 36th Chairman for a three-year term in a Special Meeting presided over by the PCB Election Commissioner, Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat Saeed.
Ramiz Raja, along with Asad Ali Khan, was nominated by the PCB Patron, Prime Minister Imran Khan, on the PCB Board of Governors on 27 August for a three-year term, where they joined Aasim Wajid Jawad, Alia Zafar, Arif Saeed, Javed Kurieshi (all independent members) and Wasim Khan (PCB Chief Executive).
Ramiz Raja is Pakistan’s 18th Test and 12th ODI captain, and played 255 international matches in which he scored 8,674 runs in the period from 1984 to 1997. He has previously served the PCB as its Chief Executive from 2003-2004, has represented Pakistan on the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and presently sits on the MCC World Cricket Committee. He has been a successful broadcaster with world’s leading cricket networks and widely regarded as the voice of Pakistan cricket.
Ramiz Raja is only the fourth former Pakistan international cricketer to head the PCB after Abdul Hafeez Kardar (1972-1977), Javed Burki (1994-1995) and Ijaz Butt (2008-2011).
Addressing the BoG following his election, Ramiz Raja said: “I am thankful to all of you for electing me as the PCB Chairman and look forward to working with you to ensure Pakistan cricket continues to thrive and grow stronger, both on and off-the-field.
“One of my key focuses will be to help introduce in the Pakistan men’s cricket team the same culture, mind-set, attitude and approach that once made Pakistan one of the most feared cricket playing nations. As an organisation, we all need to get behind the national team and provide them the desired assistance and support so that they can produce that brand of cricket, which the fans also expect from them each time they step on to the field of play.
“Obviously, as a former cricketer, my other priority will be to look into the welfare of our past and present cricketers. The game has and will always be about the cricketers and, as such, they deserve more recognition and respect from their parent institution.”
POLLARD AND KHAN TAKE TKR TO TOP OF THE TABLE
Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD (September 13, 2021): The Trinbago Knight Riders finished in top spot in the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier thanks to a four wicket win over the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. The Knight Riders will now face the Saint Lucia Kings in the first semi-final on Tuesday 14 September.
The Patriots finish third in the points table and they will face the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the second semi-final which takes place later that same day. It was the bowling of Ali Khan and the batting of Kieron Pollard who took the Knight Riders to victory, a win they wrapped up with an over to spare.
The Patriots got off to a steady start thanks to Joshua Da Silva who had been pushed up to open in the absence of the injured Devon Thomas. The young wicket-keeper batsman kept things steady after Chris Gayle was dismissed for 5 when he edged a ball from Ravi Rampaul through to Denesh Ramdin.
Da Silva went on to top score, making 50 from 45 balls, but there was no really substantial partnership in the Patriots innings. Sherfane Rutherford and Dwayne Bravo both made 25 but just as it looked as if they would launch in the death overs they were both dismissed in the midst of a 10 ball period that saw the Patriots lose four wickets.
Rather than exploding over the line the Patriots limped to 147/7 with Ali Khan the star for the Knight Riders, claiming 3/19 on his return to the starting line-up.
The Knight Riders chase got off to a sedate start as they reached 34/1 at the end of the PowerPlay. The only wicket to fall in the first six overs was that of Lendl Simmons who was dismissed by a brilliant Fabian Allen catch at backward point off the bowling of Naseem Shah.
Two wickets in three balls pinned back the Knight Riders innings with Ramdin and Colin Munro both dismissed. Things changed when Pollard came to the crease as he made his way to fifty from just 20 balls. Pollard was dismissed just two balls after passing his fifty but the Knight Riders lower order saw them to victory.
Trinbago Knight Riders 150/6 (Pollard 51, Udana 25; F Ahmed 2/16, F Allen 1/9) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 147/7 (Da Silva 50, Bravo 25, Rutherford 25; Ali Khan 3/19, Udana 2/28) by four wickets
CPL 2021: Lewis seals semifinal spot for Patriots
Sports Desk
ISLAMABAD (September 12, 2021): The St Kitts & Nevis Patriots returned to winning ways with an eight wicket victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders to seal a spot in the latter stages of the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League. The Patriots bowled brilliantly and then backed that up with a dominant batting display that saw them knock off the victory target with 32 balls to spare.
It was Evin Lewis who was the star of the show, making 102 from just 52 balls. The Knight Riders got off to a slow start in the face of some excellent bowling from the Patriots. They reached the end of their PowerPlay at 28/2 with both Lendl Simmons and Denesh Ramdin dismissed caught on the mid-wicket boundary. Ramdin could have gone an over earlier, but Ravi Bopara put down a simple chance. Thankfully for the Patriots this did not prove too costly.
A fifty-run stand between Darren Bravo and Colin Munro steadied the ship and brought the Knight Riders back into the contest. Munro would go on to top score with 47 but when Darren Bravo went for 22 the Knight Riders lost momentum once again.
When Munro and Kieron Pollard went in successive balls bowled by Jon-Russ Jaggesar it looked as if the Knight Riders would set a sub-par total but some big hitting from Sunil Narine took his team to 159/7.
The Patriots innings got off to a flying start thanks to Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle who was promoted to open as a result of an injury to Devon Thomas. They reached 67/1 from their PowerPlay overs with Gayle the wicket to fall for 35 from 18 balls.
When Gayle went it was Lewis who took up the attack, passing his fifty from just 27 balls. While Narine was economical, returning figures of 0/10 from his four overs, the rest of the Knight Riders bowlers struggled for control in the face of the Lewis onslaught.
Bopara and Lewis shared an 85-run stand, and Bopara contributed just seven runs as the Patriots opener smashed the ball to all parts.
This win moves the Patriots back to the top of the table and guarentees them a space in the semi-finals on Tuesday 14 September.
St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 160/2 (Lewis 102*, Gayle 35; Pollard 1/20, Khan 1/54) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 159/7 (Munro 47, Narine 32*; Jaggesar 3/32, Drakes 3/32) by eight wickets
Pakistan Cup: Blasters beat Strikers by 47 runs
Sports Bulletin
KARACHI (September 11, 2021):Player of the match Nahida Khan’s scored her second half-century on trot as PCB Blasters beat PCB Strikers by 47 runs at the Oval Academy Ground in the ongoing Pakistan Cup Women’s One-Day on Saturday. This was Sidra Nawaz-led Blasters’ second consecutive win.
Nahida followed up her 90 not out against PCB Dynamites on Thursday, the opening day of tournament, with 59 off 74 after Strikers’ captain Kainat Imtiaz decided to bowl at the toss.
Nahida and her fellow opener, Gul Feroza, added 114 runs for the opening wicket, before a collapse saw Blasters getting rolled out for 195 inside 47.3 overs with the only other notable contribution coming from Nida Dar, who made 24 off 33.
Both openers – Nahida and Gul – smashed five fours each. Gul made 45 off 83.
Off-spinner Hafsa Khalid accounted for top three batters, before dismissing opposition captain, Sidra, who made 33-ball 17, as she returned four for 34 from 10 overs. Ayesha Naseem’s leg-spin sent Fatima Sana and Noreen Yaqub back to the pavilion, while skipper Kainat, Umm-e-Hani and Tooba Hassan picked up one wicket each.
Omaima Sohail and Nida shared five wickets between them, with Omaima returning three for 20 from seven, as Strikers faltered in their run chase. They were all out for 148 in 41.4 overs.
Strikers’ troubles began with their opening partnership of 41 runs was broken. Jaweria Rauf managed 11 runs before she was removed by Nida and Ayesha Zafar was run out after scoring run-a-ball 33.
Number nine Tooba Hassan was the next best batter with 18 runs to her name. Kainat, Hafsa Khalid and Natalia Pervaiz scored 16 runs each.
At the National Stadium, the fans were served with a thrilling contest as Javeria Khan-led PCB Challengers defeated Muneeba Ali’s PCB Dynamites by one run.
Dynamites’ all-rounder Aliya Riaz smashed 90 off 102 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes, in the run chase before her stay at the crease was ended by Saba Nazir, who returned three of 56.
Openers Muneeba and Sadaf Shamas scored 41 and 37, before Maham Tariq blasted an unbeaten 21 off 10.
It was a solid batting performance, in which all batters played a role, which helped Challengers post 253 for four, with player of the match Sidra Amin, laying the platform with a 96-ball 70. Opening the batting, Sidra smashed seven fours, and stitched a 100-run opening stand with Fareeha Mehmood, who made 43 off 69.
Javeria hit 54 off 77 and Iram Javed made 43-ball 41. Both batters were dismissed by pacer Maham Tariq. The other two wickets were picked up by leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima.
Scores in brief:
PCB Blasters beat PCB Strikers by 47 runs at Oval Academy Ground
PCB Blasters 195 all out, 47.3 overs (Nahida Khan 59, Gul Feroza 45, Nida Dar 24; Hafsa Khalid 4-34, Ayesha Naseem 2-14)
PCB Strikers 148 all out, 41.4 overs (Ayesha Zafar 33; Omaima Sohail 3-20, Nida Dar 2-16)
Player of the match – Nahida Khan (PCB Blasters)
PCB Challengers beat PCB Dynamites by one run at National Stadium
PCB Challengers 253-4, 50 overs (Sidra Amin 70, Javeria Khan 54, Fareeha Mehmood 43, Iram Javed 41, Najiha Alvi 25 not out; Ghulam Fatima 2-35, Maham Tariq 2-57)
PCB Dynamites 252-8, 50 overs (Aliya Riaz 90; Muneeba Ali 41, Sadaf Shamas 37, Maham Tariq 21 not out; Saba Nazir 3-56)
Player of the match – Sidra Amin (PCB Challengers)
Upcoming fixtures (13-9-2021):
PCB Blasters v PCB Challengers at Oval Academy Ground
PCB Dynamites v PCB Strikers at National Stadium
New Zealand arrive in capital city Islamabad
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (September 11, 2021): New Zealand cricket team arrived in the capital city of Pakistan on Saturday to play a bilateral series of three One Day Internationals matches at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi.
A chartered plane carrying Black Caps team members and officials landed at Islamabad International Airport at 2:00pm. The security staff took them to local hotel where they under went for Covid-19 tests. Kiwis came in Pakistan after 18 years to play three ODIs and five T20, as the one day matches will be hosted by Pindi Stadium while T-20 by Qaddafi Stadium Lahore.
Names of New Zealand players (ODI squad):
Tom Latham (c) (wk), Finn Allen, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (wk), Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Scott Kuggeleijn, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Blair Tickner, Will Young
T-20 team squad:
Tom Latham (captain/wicketkeeper), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (wk), Mark Chapman, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears, Blair Tickner, Will Young.
Schedule of teams:
12 September: A member of the New Zealand squad will be available to media in a virtual media session at 1130.
Pakistan will play an intra-squad practice match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, which will begin at 1400.
13 September: Both the sides will hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from 1630.
14 September: A member of the New Zealand squad will be available to media in a virtual media session at 1130.
Both the sides will hold training sessions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from 1630.
15 September: A member of the Pakistan squad will be available to media in a virtual media session at 1130.
New Zealand squad will play an intra-squad practice match at Pindi Cricket Stadium, which will begin at 1100.
Pakistan team will practice at Pindi Cricket Stadium from 1830 to 2130.
16 September: Pakistan captain Babar Azam will hold his online pre-series media conference at 1130, which will be followed by New Zealand captain Tom Latham’s virtual session.
At 1630, both the teams will train at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
17 September: First ODI - First ball to be bowled at 1430
18 September: Both teams are scheduled to hold training session at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from 1630. Media representatives are advised to speak with the respect team media manager before arriving at the Pindi Cricket Stadium as the teams may decide to cancel their training sessions.
19 September: Second ODI – First ball to be bowled at 1430
20 September: Both teams are scheduled to hold training session at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from 1630. Media representatives are advised to speak with the respect team media manager before arriving at the Pindi Cricket Stadium as the teams may decide to cancel their training sessions.
21 September: Third ODI – First ball to be bowled at 1430
22 September: Both the sides will depart for Lahore and have no media activities planned.
PCB: A special meeting of the BoG on Monday
Sports Bulletin
LAHORE (September 11, 2021):A Special Meeting of the Board of Governors will take place on Monday, 13 September, at 1100 at the National High Performance Centre in Lahore to elect the 36th PCB Chairman. The PCB Election Commissioner, Mr Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat Saeed, will conduct the election and preside over the Special Meeting.
Aasim Wajid Jawad, Alia Zafar, Asad Ali Khan, Arif Saeed, Javed Kurieshi, Ramiz Raja and Wasim Khan are members of the BoG and will attend the special meeting.
Pakistan-New Zealand ODIs status changed
Sports Bulletin
ISLAMABAD (September 11, 2021): Pakistan Cricket Board and New Zealand Cricket have mutually agreed to change the status of next week’s ODI series to a bilateral series from the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League fixtures due to the non-availability of Decision Review System (DRS), a requirement in the event playing conditions.
As New Zealand will return to Pakistan in the 2022-23 season to play two Tests and three ODIs, the two boards have agreed that these 50-over matches will now count towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification.
Cricketers excited to welcome New Zealand after 18 years
Sports Bulletin Report
RAWALPINDI (September 11, 2021): Former men cricketers and members of the current women’s national team have expressed their thrill and excitement to welcome New Zealand men’s national cricket team for their historic tour.
The Black Caps will arrive in Pakistan today for three One-Day Internationals and five T20 Internationals. This is their first tour since 2003, when they were beaten 5-0 by the hosts in an ODI series.
Former Test captain Rashid Latif: “It is a great news for passionate cricket fans that New Zealand are arriving in Pakistan after a long gap. I still remember a match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi when Shoaib Akhtar bowled really fast and took six wickets.
“The series is a great opportunity for young Pakistan players to express their talent. I am sure fans will turn up to the stadiums in Rawalpindi and Lahore to witness exciting matches between both sides.”
Test wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal: “Witnessing international stars playing in front of them brings joy to the faces of the fans and I am hopeful the series will help promote the game in Pakistan.”
Women’s team all-rounder Nida Dar: “I am looking forward to what promises to be exciting series. My well-wishes are with the men in green and I am sure they will do well.”
National women’s team captain Javeria Khan: “It is really encouraging for the game that New Zealand is coming to Pakistan after a long gap. In this historic series, I am backing Babar Azam and his team to win.”
Former Test cricketer and now national U19 coach Ijaz Ahmed: “The tour of New Zealand is another step forward towards the complete resumption of international cricket in Pakistan. After New Zealand, England are due to visit next month here, which is fantastic for the cricket fans.
“The fans are urged to turn to stadiums keeping necessary social distancing so they can enjoy the game safely.”
Former Test cricketer Imran Farhat: “I am very happy to see New Zealand making a visit here again. I have some great memories of playing against New Zealand at home.”
Former Test cricketer Yasir Hameed: “It is really great to see New Zealand coming to Pakistan after Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and South Africa made successful tours recently. New Zealand are a tough side and I am looking forward to competitive cricket.”
Most Popular
