Cricket
T20I: England beat Pakistan by seven wickets at Oval
Sports Bulletin ReportLondon (UK): England beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the fourth and final T20I of the series at the Oval on Thursday to take the series 2-0. Both teams wrapped up their preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 by warming up in the two T20I games at the Oval and Edgbaston while the games at Cardiff and Headingley were washed out.In pursuit of the 158-run target Jos Buttler and Phil Salt walked out all guns blazing as they hammered the ball to all parts of the ground. The duo ransacked 78 runs in the powerplay as Salt hit five fours and two sixes while Buttler belted five fours and one six.Haris Rauf removed Salt (45, 25b, 6x4s, 2x6s) in the 7th over and Buttler (39, 20b, 7x4s, 1x6) in the 9th over as England cruised to 102-2 at the halfway mark. Haris returned in the 11th over to dismiss Will Jacks with a searing yorker (20, 18b, 1x4, 1x6) who had hit him for a six a ball before.In the following over Jonny Bairstow belted Shadab Khan for two consecutive sixes to keep the run-rate abreast. An unbeaten 46-run fourth-wicket partnership between Brook (17 not out, 14b, 1x4, 1x6) and Bairstow (28 not out, 16b, 1x4, 3x6s) took England home with 27 balls remaining and seven wickets in the bag. Rauf was the lone wicket-taker for Pakistan.Earlier, after England invited Pakistan to bat first, the opening batters Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam put on a solid 59-run partnership hitting eight fours and a six. Jofra Archer drew the first blood for England as he removed Babar (36, 5x4s, 1x6) on the last ball of the powerplay.In the seventh over, Adil Rashid rattled Rizwan’s stumps who departed after scoring 23 off 16 balls with the help of three fours. England managed breakthroughs at regular intervals as the spin duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid eked out the vital scalps of Fakhar Zaman (9, 9b, 1x6) and Shadab Khan (0, 1b) respectively leaving Pakistan 84-4 at the halfway mark.Azam Khan copped a five-ball duck in the 11th over. Usman Khan, in his breezy knock of 38 off 21 balls, smacked three boundaries and two sixes. Liam Livingstone delivered a double-wicket maiden dismissing Usman and Shaheen Shah Afridi as he left Pakistan reeling at 126-7 after 15 overs.Iftikhar Ahmed (21, 18b, 2x4s) and Naseem Shah (16, 18b, 1x4, 1x6) pushed Pakistan past the 150-run mark before England wrapped up Pakistan’s innings for 157 all out in 19.5 overs. For England Rashid, Livingstone and Mark Wood bagged two wickets each. Archer, Moeen and Chris Jordan struck once apiece.
15-member Pakistan squad announced for T20 World Cup 2024
Babar Azam to lead Green Shirts, Pakistan to take on India on June 9 in New YorkAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board today unveiled its 15-player squad for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in the United States of America (USA) and West Indies from June 1 to 29, 2024. Batter Babar Azam will lead the Green Shirts in the prestigious cricket fixture of the world.According to the media department of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the side was confirmed on Friday afternoon following a two-hour selection committee meeting in Birmingham, which was attended by Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Bilal Afzal, Gary Kirsten, Mohammad Yousuf and Wahab Riaz. Razzaq, Asad and Bilal joined the deliberations through videoconference.Of the 15 players, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Saim Ayub and Usman Khan have been picked for their maiden T20 World Cup, while Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim last appeared in the 2016 and 2021 tournaments, respectively. The other eight players participated in the 2022 event in Australia.Pakistan has one of the most impressive records in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007 in South Africa. It won the 2009 event under Younis Khan and twice reached the finals under Shoaib Malik (2007) and Babar Azam (2022). In 2010, 2012, and 2021, it reached the last-four stage.Names of players: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman KhanPlayer support personnel: Wahab Riaz (senior team manager), Mansoor Rana (team manager), Gary Kirsten (head coach), Azhar Mahmood (assistant coach), Simon Helmot (fielding coach), David Reid (mental performance coach), Aftab Khan (high performance coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Irtaza Komail (chief security officer), Mohammad Imran (masseur), Mohammad Khurram Sarwar (team doctor), Talha Ijaz (analyst), Raza Kitchlew (media and digital manager) and Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning coach).Pakistan’s schedule of matches:6 June – vs USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas9 June – vs India, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York11 June – vs Canada, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York16 June – vs Ireland, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2024 USA & West Indies (schedule)
June 1: U.S. vs. Canada, DallasJune 2: West Indies vs. Papua New Guinea, GuyanaJune 2: Namibia vs. Oman, BarbadosJune 3: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa, New YorkJune 3: Afghanistan vs. Uganda, GuyanaJune 4: England vs. Scotland, BarbadosJune 4: Netherlands vs. NepalJune 5: India vs. Ireland, New YorkJune 5: Papua New Guinea vs. Uganda, GuyanaJune 5: Australia vs. Oman, BarbadosJune 6: U.S. vs. Pakistan, DallasJune 6: Namibia vs. Scotland, BarbadosJune 7: Canada vs. Ireland, New YorkJune 7: New Zealand vs. Afghanistan, GuyanaJune 7: Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh, DallasJune 8: Netherlands vs. South Africa, New YorkJune 8: Australia vs. England, BarbadosJune 8: West Indies vs. Uganda, GuyanaJune 9: India vs. Pakistan, New YorkJune 9: Oman vs. Scotland, Antigua & BarbudaJune 10: South Africa vs. Bangladesh, New YorkJune 11: Pakistan vs. Canada, New YorkJune 11: Sri Lanka vs. Nepal, LauderhillJune 11: Australia vs. Namibia, Antigua & BarbudaJune 12: U.S. vs India, New YorkJune 12: West Indies vs. New Zealand, Trinidad & TobagoJune 13: England vs. Oman, Antigua & BarbudaJune 13: Bangladesh vs. Netherlands, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJune 13: Afghanistan vs. Papua New Guinea, Trinidad & TobagoJune 14: U.S. vs Ireland, LauderhillJune 14: South Africa vs. Nepal, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJune 14: New Zealand vs. Uganda, Trinidad & TobagoJune 15: Australia vs. Scotland, Saint LuciaJune 15: India vs. Canada, LauderhillJune 15: Namibia vs. England, AntiguaJune 16: Pakistan vs. Ireland, LauderhillJune 16: Bangladesh vs. Nepal, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJune 16: Sri Lanka vs. Netherlands, Saint LuciaJune 17: New Zealand vs. Papua New Guinea, Trinidad and TobagoJune 17: West Indies vs. Afghanistan, Saint LuciaJune 19: Qualifier, Antigua and BarbudaJune 19: Qualifier, Saint LuciaJune 20: Qualifier, BarbadosJune 20: Qualifier, Antigua & BarbudaJune 21: Qualifier, Saint LuciaJune 21: Qualifier, BarbadosJune 22: Qualifier, Antigua & BarbudaJune 22: Qualifier, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJune 23: Qualifier, BarbadosJune 23: Qualifier, Antigua & BarbudaJune 24: Qualifier, Saint LuciaJune 24: Qualifier, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJune 26: Semi-final 1, Trinidad and TobagoJune 27: Semi-final 2, GuyanaJune 29: Final, Barbados
Abbottabad to host Blind Cricket T20 Super League in June
Sports Bulletin ReportABBOTTABAD: A major city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province Abbottabad will stage Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) Blind Cricket T20 Super League Season 2023-24, from June 7 to 13, 2024.According to an official of PBCC, teams from four provinces including Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan will fight for the top honour, as the best players from different cricketing nations will take part in the said tournament.As many as 13 matches will be played in the entertaining and competitive event. The prestigious league is a part of preparations for the 4th T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Punjab and Sindh from November 22 to December 3, 2024. The T20 Blind Cricket World Cup will be a grand success, with seven countries, including India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies, New Zealand, and Nepal expected to feature in the event. Australia is also expected to confirm its participation soon.A total of 22 players will be shortlisted from the league for the World Cup, as the shortlisted players will be provided training before the World Cup and then a 17-member squad will be finalized for the mega event. Names of shortlisted players for T20 Super League:B1 Players: Zafar Iqbal, Sajid Nawaz, Mohammad Ayaz, Idrees Saleem, Kashan Ali, Qazim Ullah, Mohammad Salman, Basheer Khan, Riasat Khan, Arsalan Rasheed, Abdul Wahab, Shoaib Khan, Kashif Sadique, Hafiz Abdul Razaq, Qasim Khalil, Mohammad Sohail, Habib Taj, Asif Khan, Mohammad Shahzeb, Zafar JuniorB2 Players: Nisar Ali, Badar Munir, Shahzeb Haider, Babar Ali, Haroon Khan, Anees Javed, Farhan Ullah, Naseeb Ullah, Ehtisham Ul Haq, Ayub Khan, Usman Chorai, Danyal, Mohammad Noman, Israr ul Hassan, Moin Aslam, Mohammad IrfanB3 Players: Mati Ullah, Akmal Hayat, Faizan Khatak, Mohsin Khan, Sana Ullah, Kamran Akhtar, Sanwal Shahzada, Mohammad Rashid, Mohammad Safdar, Talha Iqbal, Mohammad Ijaz, Imran Brohi, Naimat Ullah, Mohammad Zeeshan, Naeem Ullah, Hussain Bukhsh, Fasih Ullah, Gul Sher, Naeem Ullah, Iftikhar Tiger.
Shahid Afridi unveiled as ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Ambassador
Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced Pakistan’s iconic all-rounder Shahid Afridi as the latest name on the star-studded roster of Ambassadors for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies which begins on 1 June.A veteran of six T20 World Cups, two of which as captain, Afridi spearheaded Pakistan’s 2009 triumph with a Player of the Match performance in the final at Lord’s, and will feature in a range of promotional activities around the World Cup and lend expert insights to the event through a series of guest columns.Shahid Afridi, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009 winner, said: “The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is an event that is very close to my heart. From being Player of the Tournament in the inaugural edition to lifting the trophy in 2009, some of my favourite career highlights have come from competing on this stage. T20 World Cups have gone from strength to strength in recent years, and I’m thrilled to be part of this edition, where we will see more teams, more matches and even more drama than ever before. I am particularly excited to witness the India v Pakistan fixture on 9 June. It is one of the great rivalries in sport and New York will be a fitting stage for this unmissable encounter between two great teams.”Claire Furlong, ICC General Manager, Marketing and Communications, said: “Shahid competed in six ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, two of which as captain and delivering a Player of the Match performance when winning the trophy in 2009, so who better to join our all-star Ambassador team. He’s a fan favourite around the world and alongside Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle and eight-time Olympic gold-medallist Usain Bolt, will be bringing fans closer to the event ahead of what is set to be the biggest T20 World Cup ever.”
First ODI: England Women beat Pakistan Women by 37 runs
Sports Bulletin ReportDerby (UK): England Women beat Pakistan Women by 37 runs in the first ODI at Derby on Thursday. In pursuit of the 244-run target, Muneeba Ali, batting at three, ended up as the top scorer for Pakistan scoring 34 off 60 balls. Muneeba shared a 30-run second-wicket stand with Sadaf Shamas who hit three boundaries in 28 off 48 balls.Nida Dar (26, 38b, 3x4s) and Aliya Riaz (21, 32b, 3x4s) steered Pakistan from 117-4 to 149-4 after 34 overs where they required 95 off 96 balls with six wickets in hand. The tide turned in England’s favour when Nida, Fatima Sana and Aliya fell in 35th, 36th and 37th over respectively.Najiha Alvi remained unbeaten on 26 off 57 balls as Pakistan fell 37 runs short. Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean spun a web taking three and two wickets respectively. Pacers Lauren Bell and Kate Cross bagged two scalps each.Earlier, after Pakistan opted to bowl, England’s opening batters, Tammy Beaumont (33, 40b, 5x4s) and Maia Bouchier (17, 24b, 2x4s) stitched a 45-run partnership before Nashra Sundhu struck to remove the latter.Skipper Heather Knight occupied the crease for 49 balls returning for 29 before she was stumped by Najiha Alivi against Aliya. Nat-Sciver Brunt struck four boundaries in her 34-ball 31-run outing before she departed leaving England 118-4. A resurgent fifth wicket partnership, between Alice Capsey (44, 65b, 3x4s) and Amy Jones (37, 38b, 3x4s), worth 67 off 75 balls, kept the innings intact.Following Capsey’s dismissal in the 44th over with the scorecard reading 216-6, Sarah Glenn’s unbeaten effort of 16 runs off 13 balls propelled England to 243-9 in their 50 overs. For Pakistan, skipper Nida picked up three wickets while Aliya, Nashra and Umm-e-Hani bagged two wickets each.
T20I: Rain washes out first match between Pakistan, and England
Sports Bulletin ReportLeeds (UK): The opening fixture of the T20 International cricket series between Pakistan and hosts England called off due to rain at the Headingley Cricket Ground on Wednesday. The two teams arrived at the venue amidst heavy rain following, which the game was called off without even the toss taking place.Pakistan and England will now travel to Birmingham to play the second T20I of the series at Edgbaston Cricket Ground which is scheduled to take place on May 25, 2024.
Pakistan women to face England women on Thursday in ODI
Sports Bulletin ReportDerby (UK): Pakistan women will take on England women in a three-match ODI series, commencing on Thursday (May 23, 2024) at the County Ground in Derby. The second ODI will be played in Taunton on 26 May, followed by the third ODI in Chelmsford on 29 May.The series, which is part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, will be Pakistan’s eighth and final series in the cycle. Pakistan are currently positioned on fifth spot with 16 points in the 10-team Women’s Championship. The top five teams from this championship, along with hosts India, will directly qualify for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.Earlier on the tour, both sides had featured in three T20Is, which were won by the hosts 3-0.Opening batter Sidra Amin (948 runs at an average of 52.66 in the ICC Championship 2022-25), said:“Despite the recent T20I series not going our way, we are fully focused and eager to put on a good performance in the upcoming ODIs against England.“We believe in our capabilities and are focused on executing our plans well in the upcoming ODI series. The team spirit is high, and we are determined to end the ICC Women's Championship matches on a positive note.”Pakistan women squad: Nida Dar (Captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda AkhtarEngland women ODI squad: Heather Knight (Captain), Alice Capsey, Amy Jones, Charlie Dean, Danielle Wyatt, Kate Cross, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer, Maia Bouchier, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sarah Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone, Tammy BeaumontODI series schedule:23 May – 1st ODI, Derby (1.00pm local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)26 May – 2nd ODI, Taunton (11.00am local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)29 May – 3rd ODI, Chelmsford (1.00pm local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)
CE Sports won the Jazz Tape Ball Premier League
Karachi (Sports Reporter): CE Sports outclassed Sherwani Sports by nine wickets to win the Tape Ball Premier League at Moin Khan Stadium, Karachi.Sherwani Sports batted first and scored 97 runs for the loss of eight over five wickets in the allotted overs. Rana Mohsin scored 18 runs and Bahadur Lefty scored 17 runs. Left-arm bowler Maaz took three wickets, Irfan Noona took two wickets and Qadir Kashmiri took one wicket.In reply, CE Sports achieved the target for one wicket in 4.3 overs owing to the excellent batting of Taimur Mirza and captain Asad Shah. Asad Shah scored 49 runs off fifteen balls. Taimur Mirza scored 38 runs.The winning team, CE Sports, was awarded Rs.7.5 million and a trophy. The runner-up team Sherwani Sports was entitled to two lakh rupees. Jazz Head of Products and Segment Asad Maqbool said that his company supported tape ball cricket which was well received by the fans. Tape Ball Premier League Director Khurram Majeed thanked Jazz for sponsoring the event. Ten teams participated in the six-day competition. Taimur Mirza was declared the best player of the event.
CRICKET - Physically Handicap 19 May, 2024
Sports Bulletin ReportMULTAN: Multan Physcaly Handicap (PD) cricket team have won the Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) National PD T20 Cricket Championship Grade-1 title after defeating Bahawalpur by 6 wickets in a one-sided contest in the final played here at the DHA Sports Complex.In the final, Bahawalpur could post a meager total of 127 runs on the scoreboard. Abid Hussain and Mann scored each 26 runs were the major contributors. Zubair Saleem dismissed 4 players for 26 runs, Mohammad Irfan took 3 wickets and Jahanzeb Tiwana took 2 wickets. In reply, Multan won the title for the fourth time by achieving the target of four wickets in the 19th overs, Majid Hussain remained unbeaten by scoring 45 runs with the help of 5 fours, Mohammad Zaman Ali scored 34 runs which included a six and 3 fours.On the occasion, former Test cricketer Masood Anwaar gave player of the match award to Zubair Saleem for the fourth consecutive time. Former Test cricketer Masood Anwaar paid tribute to the efforts of Pakistan Physical Disability Cricket Association General Secretary and Tournament Director Amiruddin Ansari for organizing a wonderful and successful event and congratulated the winning team Multan. On this eve, Arshad Gopang Additional Commissioner Multan, Mohammad Arsalan Khan President Multan District, Zafar Sherwani Director Sports Emerson University, Sohail Khan, Saleem Tunsvi, Rohail Butt MD Shegan Madani CEO and Babar Saleem Director Shah Jahan Builders, Regional Head PPDCA Multan and Bahawalpur Jameel Kamran, tournament secretary Mohammad Nizam, Manzoor Latifi and a large number of fans were present.
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