Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been advised two-week rehabilitation after he landed awkwardly while taking Harry Brook’s catch during Sunday’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 final in Melbourne. The scan conducted on Monday morning prior to the team’s departure for Pakistan, has confirmed there were no signs of an injury and the knee discomfort was likely “due to a forced knee flexion whilst landing”. The scans were discussed between PCB’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Najeebullah Soomro, and Australian knee specialist, Dr Peter D’Alessandro, and it was reassuring to know that there was no injury. The left-arm fast bowler is feeling better and is in high spirits. Shaheen will undergo rehabilitation and conditioning programme that has been designed to strengthen his knee at the National High Performance Centre few days after his return to Pakistan. Shaheen’s return to international cricket will be subject to the champion fast bowler’s successful completion of the rehabilitation programme and following go-aheads by the medical staff. 

Sports Bulletin Report Multan: Half-centuries from Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Tayyab Arif and Shawaiz Irfan and three wickets by Mohammad Zeeshan led Pakistan U19 to a 128-run win over Bangladesh U19 in the second one-day at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The win also means the series is level on 1-1 with the third and final 45-over-match to be played on 14 November at the same venue. After being put into bat, Pakistan managed to score 242 for eight in their allotted 45 overs. Mohammad Tayyab Arif coming to bat at number three top-scored for his side with a 98-ball 66, which included six fours and one six. Arafat Minhas batting at number seven returned undefeated on 57 off 41 balls, hitting eight fours and one six. Shawaiz Irfan was other notable run getter for the hosts with a quick-fire 51 off 39 balls, striking three fours and four sixes. For Bangladesh, Iqbal Hossain Emmon and Maruf Mridha bagged two wickets apiece. In return, the visitors were bowled out for 114 in 28 overs. Only three batters – Ashiqur Rahman (42, 36b, 8x4), Sharear Sakib (16, 29b, 1x4) and Iqbal Hossain (11 not out, 12b, 2x4) managed to enter into double figures. Right-arm fast Zeeshan was the pick of the bowlers with match figures of 7-3-20-3. Ali Asfand and Ali Raza took two wickets each. Scores in brief: Pakistan U19 beat Bangladesh U19 by 128 runs Pakistan U19 242-8, 45 overs (Mohammad Tayyab Arif 66, Arafat Minhas 57 not out, Shawaiz Irfan 51; Maruf Mridha 2-43, Iqbal Hossain Emmon 2-45) Bangladesh U19 114 all out, 28 overs (Ashiqur Rahman 42; Mohammad Zeeshan 3-20, Ali Asfand 2-12, Ali Raza 2-29) Player of the match: Arafat Minhas (Pakistan U19)  

Sports Bulletin Report MULTAN: Maruf Mridha’s player of the match bowling performance of four wickets for 38 runs and half-centuries by openers Chowdhury Mohammad Rizwan and Ashiqur Rahman Shibli handed Bangladesh a comfortable seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the first of three U19 one-day matches at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Mridha’s splendid opening spell reduced Pakistan to three for three after Bangladesh captain Ahrar Amin decided to bowlat the toss. Pakistan, however, managed to score 202, thanks to brilliant fightback from Arafat Minhas and Uzair Mumtaz. Arafat top-scored with 77-ball 71 not out, smashing seven fours and four sixes, and Uzair scored 57 off 76 in which he hit four fours and two sixes. Mohammad Tayyab Arif was the only player to put up a notable score in the top order with 28. Bangladesh openers Rizwan and Shibli never allowed Pakistan any opportunity of bouncing back with their solid opening stand of 160. Rizwan made 79 off 86 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six, while Shibli made 74 in 112 balls (eight fours). Pakistan’s Ali Raza dismissed both openers, but it was all too late by then as Sharear Sakib (18 not out) and Ahrar (seven not out) took the visitors over the line comfortably with 4.5 overs spare. The second and third one-day matches will be played on 12 and 14 November. Scores in brief: Bangladesh U19 beat Pakistan U19 by seven wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium Pakistan 202 all out, 45 overs (Arafat Minhas 71, Uzair Mumtaz 57, Mohammad Tayyab Arif 28; Maruf Mrdiha 4-38, Mohammad Rafi Uzzaman 2-28) Bangladesh 205-3, 40.1 overs (Chowdhury Mohammad Rizwan 79, Ashiqur Rahman Shibli 74; Ali Raza 2-44) Player of the Match – Maruf Mridha

BIPIN DANI Vishmi Gunarathne becomes the first Under-19 Women’s captain for the Sri Lankan team. The 17-year-old right-handed opening batter is leading the team for the India tour. "Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board is sending the U-19 team for the first time overseas and obviously we are delighted with my daughter being named captain but this has "not surprised" us. No surprise since she already showed her talents``, her father Aruna Gunarathne, speaking exclusively over tge telephone from Colombo said on Wednesday evening. Interestingly, the family is yet to congratulate Vishmi on this good news. "We got through the Sri Lanka Cricket Website and still have not talked to Vishmi since she is busy with her training". "Very talented Girl is being selected to the Leadership and has proven this by achieving the champions in the All Island U 19 championship 2022 under her Captaincy. We want to see that my daughter is working hard to perform the best in any time by self motivation", he added further. "Principal, MIC and Head Coach of the Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya has calculated long time master plans to produce such talented cricketers. Hashan Thilakarathna former National Coach and the U19 Head coach Shashikala Siriwardana are helping to develop her international cricket", the father concluded. Sri Lanka's Under-19 Women’s Team arrived on India tour on November 9, 2022, to take part in a T20 quadrangular tournament involving India's U19 "A" and "B" teams and the West Indies Under-19.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Baber Elevens have confirmed their berths for the final after defeating New Zealand by 7 wickets in the first semifinal of the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2022 at Sydney Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.   New Zealand’s skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and offered to opposite Captain Babar Azam for bowling first. Pakistani bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled brilliantly and took the first wicket in the third ball of the match. While Kiwis set 153 runs on the scoreboard. Middle Order Batter Daryl Mitchell scored 53 runs and faced 35 balls. Captain Kane Williamson added 46 runs in team total for 42 deliveries and wicket keeper Batter Devon Conway scored 21 runs in 20 balls. Pakistani bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi got 2 wickets for 24 runs in his 4 overs. Mohammad Nawaz took a single wicket and conceded 12 runs in 2 overs. In reply Pakistan chased 153 runs target in the last over with 7 wickets in hand. Pakistani opener Muhammad Rizwan scored 57 runs in 43 balls. Babar Azam scored 53 runs and faced 42 deliveries while Mohammad Haris scored 30 runs. Kiwi Bowler Trent Boult sent out 2 batters for the pavilion and conceded 33 runs. Mitchell Santner took 1 wicket for 26 runs Summarized Scorecard New Zealand Bating: - (152/4) Daryl Mitchell 53 runs in35 balls (3 four and 1 six), Kane Williamson 46 in 42balls (1 four and 1 six), Devon Conway 21 runs in 20 balls (3 four) Pakistan Bowling: Shaheen Shah Afridi 2 for 24, Mohammad Nawaz 1 for 12 Pakistan Batting: - (153/3)  Mohammad Rizwan 57 runs in 43 balls (5 four), Babar Azam scored 53 runs in42 balls (7 four), Mohammad Haris 30 runs in26 balls (2 four and 1 six) New Zealand Bowling: Trent Boult 2 for 33, Mitchell Santner 1 for 26 Toss: - New Zealand Man of the Match: - Mohammad Rizwan    

 Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: Central Punjab’s Abdullah Shafique is in prime form in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy season. He entered the eighth round as the leading run scorer and on Tuesday, the 23-year-old right-handed opener stroked his third century of the tournament against Northern on what was the first day of the first-class four-day affair at the LCCA Ground. Central Punjab were 302 for five in 82 overs at the close of play with Abdullah’s 155, scored at an impressive strike rate of 70.45, standing out. He punched 20 balls for fours and deposited three over the boundary rope for maximums in his 220-ball innings. Musa Khan got the better of opener Abid Ali and one-drop Mohammad Saad that reduced Central Punjab to 34 for two. Soon, Tayyab Tahir, who has been in good touch this season, was undone by Nauman Ali as problems compounded for Central Punjab with the scorecard now reading 50 for three. Abdullah then took control of the day’s proceedings. He added important 92 runs with Qasim Akram, who made 38 off 97 before getting trapped LBW by Mubasir Khan, for the fourth wicket. The most crucial phase of the Central Punjab’s innings, however, was the rearguard partnership between Abdullah and Faheem Ashraf of 145 that shifted the momentum in their favour. The partnership ended when Abdullah was caught behind off Aamir Jamal. Abdullah now has 791 runs in 11 innings at a handsome average of 79.10. That he is in good form in the longer format augurs well for Pakistan who will host England and New Zealand for three and two Tests respectively over this winter. Abdullah has already made a name for himself in a brief seven-Test career by amassing 736 runs – which include two centuries and five half-centuries – at a brilliant average of 67. On Wednesday, Faheem, who was not out on 68 off 108 (13 fours), will resume the proceedings in the company of Aamer Yamin, who was unbeaten on seven. Due to heavy overnight rain and wet outfield, only two balls were bowled at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium during the match between Southern Punjab and Balochistan, who decided to bowl without contesting the toss. Southern Punjab’s opener Umar Siddiq was dismissed on what was the second and last ball of the day by Khurram Shahzad as the scorecard stood at none for one. The third match of the round between Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will commence tomorrow at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Scores in brief:  Central Punjab elects to bat against Northern at the LCCA Ground  Central Punjab 302-5, 82 overs (Abdullah Shafique 155, Faheem Ashraf 68 not out, Qasim Akram 38; Musa Khan 2-62) Toss uncontested – Balochistan opt to bowl against Southern Punjab at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium Southern Punjab 0-1, 0.2 overs (Khurram Shahzad 1-0)

Sports Bulletin Report  LAHORE: Pakistan are fully focused on winning the third and final ODI and with it clean-sweeping Ireland when the two teams line up for the last time in the ODI series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday. The match will be live-streamed on PCB YouTube, with the first ball to be bowled at 0930am. After the ODI series, both sides will meet again in the three T20Is at the same venue from 12 to 16 November. The three-match ODI series are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 and the home side will be eager to end the series collecting all six points on offer. Pakistan have played five matches till date in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, three against Sri Lanka this year and winning two of them, and are currently on the second spot in the ICC Women’s Championship with eight points. India are leading the chart with 12 points from six matches. Opening batter Sidra Amin – who has scores of 176 not out and 91 not out from two outings in the series and was named player of the match in both matches – will be looking forward to play another match-winning innings for her side and completing a hat-trick of player of the match awards. During the final ODI, Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof will enter the record books as the country’s most capped player in women’s ODIs. She has till date featured in 120 ODIs and Wednesday’s ODI will be her 121st appearance, taking her past Sana Mir’s 120 ODIs. Lahore-born Bismah made her ODI debut at the age of 15 against India in Jaipur in the Women’s Asia Cup in December 2006. Her 43 runs in the match was the second-highest score for the side after Sajjida Shah’s 44. In 120 ODIs, Bismah has scored 2,960 runs (most by a Pakistan batter in the format) at 29.89, which includes 17 half-centuries. Bismah captained the ODI side for the first time in 2013 and has led the team in 30 ODIs, scoring 958 runs. She requires another 42 runs to become the second Pakistan captain after Sana Mir (1,069) to score 1,000 ODI runs as skipper. Under Bismah’s captaincy, Pakistan have won 15 matches, lost 13 matches, and tied one match, while one game was abandoned due to rain. Reflecting on her journey, Bismah Maroof told PCB Digital: “It is a great honour to represent Pakistan. After becoming a mother and since my comeback, I am grateful to my parents and my husband who have supported me in continuing my cricket journey. “I have played a lot under Sana Mir, she was an inspirational leader, helping in grooming most of us and we all have learnt a lot from her. I have remained vice-captain under her and it helped me improve a lot. “Tomorrow’s game is very important; we would like to win the third ODI to take 100 per cent ICC Championship points. We have the momentum with us and we would like to end the series on a winning note.”

Sports Bulletin Report  MULTAN: When play began on the final morning of the U19 four-day contest between Pakistan and Bangladesh, any result was possible. The match in the last three days had swung like a pendulum. The tourists, set 411 to win with nine wickets in hand, had 60 on board, faced an uphill task but hung in for a draw by finishing at 357 for six. The solitary red-ball fixture was a curtain raiser for what is a six-match tour. The two sides play three 45-over matches and two T20s over the next two weeks, providing the teenage cricketers an opportunity to experience all the formats of the game under the competitive environment of international cricket. “We do not play a lot of four-day cricket at the junior level but this was a great learning and enjoyable experience,” said Saad Baig, the Pakistan captain. “We learnt the importance of being patient and the art of protecting one’s wicket.” That Bangladesh had a mammoth target to surmount was because of the sparkling centuries from Saad and Wahaj Riaz that lifted Pakistan to 347 after being two down for only 27 in the second innings. The pair added crucial 222 runs for the third wicket and put Pakistan on path of posting an imposing target in a match that had produced totals of 224 and 161. Both the batters scored 117 - while Wahaj’s took 172 balls in which he smashed 10 fours and five sixes, Saad brought up his at a strike rate of 87.31, smashing 18 fours and a six in his 134-ball innings. “We did not have a good start to the game but we made a great comeback. When I joined Wahaj at the crease at 27 for two, we talked about playing the ball on merit and spending time at the crease,” recalled Saad at the end of the match. “We played out 18 overs on day two. We decided to bat long before the third day and succeeded in stitching a 222-run partnership.” After their partnership came to an end, Haseeb Nazim, with a solid half-century (53 off 74), helped with the moment. Pakistan had Bangladesh one down for 60, but a gutsy century from Sharear Sakib and 80s from Jishan Alam and Mohammad Shihab James rescued the tourists. In what Bangladesh’s first century of the match, Sharear scored 134 off 202 balls in which he struck 21 fours. His partnership for the third wicket with Jishan, who made 97-ball 81, hitting nine fours and three sixes, of 166 ensured Pakistan bowlers do not get any further opportunities to make inroads in what was a crucial time in Bangladesh’s innings. “We began well on the fourth day, but Bangladesh played good cricket and dominated the first session,” said Saad. “We managed to fight back in the second session but eventually they claimed the third session and the evenly contested match ended in a draw.” As the match entered the thrilling final session, Pakistan needed to take four wickets, but Shihab, with his 85 not out off 130, provided stiff resistance. The two captains shook hands as the sun sank on the City of Saints. If the closely-contested four-day match is any indicator, the upcoming five white-ball matches are going to keep every fan and follower excited. “It was a great match to be part of. It is an honour to captain Pakistan at any level and it is a big achievement to lead the team in my first year at the U19 level. We have had a fantastic match and everyone is now excited for the one-days. Our focus is now on the three one-day matches and the aim is to pocket that series.” The two sides play three 45-over matches on 10, 12 and 14 on November, before the two T20s on 16 and 18 at the same venue. Scores in brief: Pakistan U19 224 all out, 68 overs (Mohammad Zulkifal 43, Ali Asfand 41 not out; Rohanat Doullah Borson 3-42, Jishan Alam 2-3, Maruf Mridha 2-29) and 347 all out, 79.1 overs (Saad Baig 117, Wahaj Riaz 117, Haseeb Nazim 53; Mohammad Shihab James 4-24, Rohanat Doullah Borson 2-61, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby 2-81) Bangladesh U19 161 all out, 56 overs (Chowdhury Mohammad Rizwan 40, Rohanat Doullah Borson 23 not out; Abdul Basit 3-18, Aftab Ibrahim 2-31, Mohammad Ibtisam 2-32, Ali Asfand 2-39) and 357-6, 92 overs (Sharear Sakib 134, Mohammad Shihab James 85 not out; Mohammad Ibtisam 2-66, Mohammad Ismail 2-83) Target: 411 runs Result: Match drawn

Sports Bulletin Report Multan: Sharear Sakib’s century and half-centuries by Mohammad Shihab James and Jishan Alam helped Bangladesh U19 to play out a drawn game against Pakistan U19 in the solitary four-day fixture at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on Monday. Pakistan and Bangladesh will now feature in three 45-over matches and two T20s from 10 to 18 November at the same venue. Resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 60 for one, in pursuit of 411-run target, Bangladesh managed to score 357 for six in 92 overs when stumps were drawn. Sharear Sakib and Jishan Alam added 166 runs for the third wicket to give their side a chance down the mammoth target.Jishan was the first to return to the hut, scoring 81 off 97 balls, which included nine fours and three sixes. Century maker Sharear was joined by Mohammad Shihab James and the pair knitted 53 runs for the fourth wicket. Sharear was top scorer for his side, scoring 134 off 202 balls, smashing 21 fours. Shihab returned undefeated on a 130-ball 85, striking 11 fours and one six. For Pakistan, Mohammad Ibtisam and Mohammad Ismail bagged two wickets apiece. Scores in brief: Match drawn between Pakistan U19 and Bangladesh U19 at the Multan Cricket Stadium Pakistan U19 224 all out, 68 overs (Mohammad Zulkifal 43, Ali Asfand 41 not out; Rohanat Doullah Borson 3-42, Jishan Alam 2-3, Maruf Mridha 2-29) and 347 all out, 79.1 overs (Saad Baig 119, Wahaj Riaz 117, Haseeb Nazim 53; Mohammad Shihab James 4-24, Rohanat Doullah Borson 2-61, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby 2-81) Bangladesh U19 161 all out, 56 overs (Chowdhury Mohammad Rizwan 40, Rohanat Doullah Borson 23 not out; Abdul Basit 3-18, Aftab Ibrahim 2-31, Mohammad Ibtisam 2-32, Ali Asfand 2-39) and 357-6, 92 overs (Sharear Sakib 134, Mohammad Shihab James 85 not out; Mohammad Ibtisam 2-66, Mohammad Ismail 2-83)

Sports Bulletin Report Adelaide, Australia: Pakistan stormed into the semifinal of the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2022 after thrashing Bangladesh by 5 wickets in their last Group B fixture at Adelaide cricket stadium Australia on Sunday. Green Shirts achieved their target of 128 runs after losing five batters, as 9 balls were spare. After the Netherlands shocked South Africa by 13 runs in the earlier fixture to turn Pakistan versus Bangladesh into a winner takes all match, Shaheen recorded figures of 4-0-22-4 as Bangladesh were limited to 127 for eight. Mohammad Rizwan (32), Mohammad Haris (31), Babar Azam (25) and Shan Masood (24 not out) then made even contributions as Pakistan romped to victory with 11 balls to spare. The victory means Pakistan will join India in the semi-finals from Group-2 with the table-topper to meet England and No.2 side to take on New Zealand for places in the final. However, Group-2 standings will be confirmed following the India versus Zimbabwe match, which will be the final game of the Super-12 fixtures. For Pakistan, this was the second successive time they have qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semifinals after having missed out in the 2014 (in Bangladesh) and 2016 (in India) editions. This is also the sixth time overall in eight tournaments Pakistan have reached the last four, winning the 2009 event in England and finishing runners-up in South Africa in 2007. The Adelaide Oval also became a happy venue for Pakistan on 6 November 2022 after they had lost to Australia in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 quarterfinal match at the same venue seven years ago. Coincidently, the passage to the semifinals for the 2022 T20 World Cup is pretty similar to the 1992 World Cup when Pakistan had to win all remaining matches and also hope for some results to go in their favour so that they could progress to the last four. Thirty years later, Pakistan lost to India and Zimbabwe in last-ball finishes, before bouncing back to beat the Netherlands, South Africa and Bangladesh. Parallel to that, the Dutch caused one of the biggest upsets of the tournament when they knocked-out South Africa, leaving Pakistan a victory over Bangladesh to continue their march in the event. Scores in brief Match 41 – Pakistan beat Bangladesh by five wickets Bangladesh 127-8, 20 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 54, Afif Hossain 24 not out; Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-22, Shadab Khan 2-30) Pakistan 128-5, 18.1 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 32, Mohammad Haris 31, Babar Azam 25, Shan Masood 24 not out) Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi Pakistan (Playing XI): ohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi Bangladesh (Playing XI): Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan(w), Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman