Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report MURIDKE:-It was a commanding 70 not out at a strike rate of 106.06 by Central Punjab opener Eyman Fatima that made her side champions of the Women’s Under-19 T20 Tournament with a seven-wicket win over Sindh. Central Punjab chased down 109 with four balls spare at Lahore Country Club as player of the final Eyman smashed 12 fours and two sixes in her 66-ball knock. She added 32 runs for the opening wicket with captain Shawal Zulfiqar and 49 with Warda Yousaf for the second wicket. Eyman finished the tournament with the second most runs (171 at 85.50) – one run behind her captain, Shawal, who topped the charts with 172 (86 average). The two Central Punjab batters were amongst the four batters to score half-centuries in the tournament with Sindh’s Aroob Shah and Central Punjab’s Warda Yousaf being the other two. Sindh managed 108 for eight after they were put into bat. Aroob, once again, led her side from front with 45 off 28 (eight fours) before she was run out by her opposite number. Anoosha Nasir made 21 off 25. Central Punjab’s Quratulain and Laiba Nasir returned two for 14 and two for 22. Quratulain, along with Aroob, finished as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament (nine wickets). Aroob was named player of the tournament for her all-round show. Best performers of the tournament were all from Central Punjab as Shawal bagged the award for batter, Quratulain for bowler, Eyman for fielder and Zamina Tahir for wicketkeeper. Brief Scores: Sindh 108-8, 20 overs (Aroob Shah 45; Quratulain 2-14, Laiba Nasir 2-22) Central Punjab 110-3, 19.2 overs (Eyman Fatima 70 not out) Awards: Player of the final – Eyman Fatima (Central Punjab) Player of the tournament – Aroob Shah (Sindh) Best batter – Shawal Zulfiqar (Central Punjab) Best bowler – Quratulain (Central Punjab) Best wicketkeeper – Zamina Tahir (Central Punjab)

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-The inaugural Cricket Associations Divisional Senior Tournament 2022-23 in all six Cricket Associations concluded on Sunday. Sargodha Division, Hazara-Mardan Division, Gilgit Baltistan Division and Sahiwal Division were crowned champions in Central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northern and Southern Punjab jurisdictions respectively. In the Balochistan-leg, Quetta-Rakhshan and Sibi-Naseerabad, while in Sindh jurisdiction, Karachi and Sukkur-Larkana Division were declared joint winners after the two finals were abandoned due to rain. Balochistan Cricket Association Quetta-Rakhshan and Sibi-Naseerabad were declared joint winners of the Balochistan-leg. Nasir Khan representing Sibi-Naseerbad Division scored 362 runs from four matches at 90.50. Nasir’s teammate Taimur Ali scored 222 runs from four outings in the tournament. Mohammad Junaid from Quetta-Rakshan scored 160 runs from four matches at 32. Zainullah Snr representing Quetta-Rakshan Division took 22 wickets from four matches with three five-fers. Zainullah’s teammate and left-armer Mohammad Junaid took 19 scalps from four outings in the tournament. Sibi-Naseerabad Division’s Mohammad Javed bagged 17 wickets from four matches. Central Punjab Cricket Association In the Central Punjab jurisdiction, Sargodha Division won the leg due to their first innings lead over Lahore Division in the final staged at the LCCA Ground from 19-21 August. Amongst the batters, Sargodha Division’s Hamza Akbar topped the table with 274 runs from four matches at 91.33. Ameer Hamza representing Faisalabad Division scored 269 runs from three outings in the tournament at 89.67. Sargodha Division’s Mohammad Abubakar scored 257 from three matches at 42.83. In the bowling charts, Lahore Division’s Haseeb-ur-Rehman and Mohammad Rameez Jnr bagged 16 and 15 wickets, respectively from four matches. Gujranwala-Sialkot Division’s Asad Raza grabbed 14 wickets from three matches. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cricket Association Hazara-Mardan Division were declared champions of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Divisional leg after taking a first-innings lead over D.I.Khan-Bannu Division in the final held at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium from 18 to 20 August. Left-handed batter Maaz Ahmed Sadaqat representing Hazara-Mardan Division topped the batting list with 395 runs from three outings in the tournament. Second on the list was Mohammad Usman representing Malakand Division who scored 355 runs from three matches at 71. Mohammad Nisar Afridi featuring for D.I.Khan-Bannu Division scored 291 runs from four matches at 58.20. Maaz Khan from Hazara-Mardan Division leads the bowling charts with 18 wickets from three matches. Sher Badshah and Adil Naz representing D.I.Khan-Bannu Division bagged 16 and 15 wickets, respectively. Northern Cricket Association Gilgit Baltistan Division were crowned champions of the Northern-leg on the basis of first-innings lead in the final against Rawalpindi Division staged at the House of Northern from 18 to 20 August. Sardar Hassan Raza representing Rawalpindi Division was the leading run-getter with 346 runs from two outings in the tournament at 115.33. Right-handed batters Taimur Khan and Umair Masood finished the tournament with 218 runs each from four matches each. Shoaib Amir and Saqlain Gillani representing Rawalpindi Division bagged 15 and nine wickets, respectively. Left-arm bowler Mohammad Ismail from Gilgit Baltistan grabbed eight scalps from four games. Sindh Cricket Association Karachi Division and Sukkur-Larkana Division were declared the joint winners of the Sindh Cricket Association Division tournament after the final between the two teams was abandoned due to rain. Karachi Division’s Shehzar Mohammad topped the batting charts with 213 runs from two outings in the tournament at 106.50. Hyderabad Division’s Rizwan Mehmood scored 145 runs in two innings at 36.25. Karachi Division’s Majid Asghar was the most prolific bowler with 14 wickets from two matches. Mohammad Asad and Mohammad Asad Malik representing Shaheed Benazirabad-Mirpur Khas Division bagged nine and six wickets, respectively. Southern Punjab Cricket Association Sahiwal Division clinched the title of the Southern Punjab Cricket Association-leg on first innings lead against Multan in the final staged at the District Sports Ground, Multan from 18 to 20 August.  Bahawalpur Division’s Ali Imran occupied the top spot with 411 runs from three matches at a staggering average of 102.75. Sahiwal Division’s Mohammad Arsalan Zia scored 408 runs from four matches at 136. Mohammad Sudais representing D.G Khan Division scored 308 runs from three matches at 61.60. Amongst bowlers, Sahiwal Division’s Mohammad Jahangir bagged 22 wickets from four matches. Left-arm bowler Mohammad Rameez from D.G.Khan Division grabbed 20 wickets from three matches. Another left-arm bowler Mohammad Junaid associated with Multan Division took 15 wickets from three outings in the tournament.

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-The Pakistan Cricket Board today confirmed details of England’s tour of Pakistan for three Tests, which will be played in December. This will be England’s second half of the tour, following seven Twenty20 Internationals in Karachi and Lahore from 20 September to 2 October. Ben Stokes’ side will open the tour with the first Test in Rawalpindi from 1-5 December, before both sides move to Multan for the second Test from 9-13 December. Karachi will host the third Test from 17-21 December. This will be the first time England will play a Test in Rawalpindi, which has previously staged 12 matches with the home side winning five and losing three. When England last toured Pakistan in 2005, they lost the Multan Test by 22 runs. The venue has staged five Tests, with Pakistan winning three and losing one. National Stadium was considered Pakistan’s happy hunting ground until Nasser Hussain’s side in 2000 ended Pakistan’s 34-Test unbeaten record, winning the third Test in near darkness by six wickets. Pakistan’s only other loss in 44 matches in Karachi was against South Africa, who won the 2007 Test by 160 runs. Nonetheless, with 23 Test wins, the National Stadium remains Pakistan most favourite Test venue. Zakir Khan, PCB Director, International Cricket said: “We are pleased that Pakistan and England Test rivalry, which has historically produced close and tight matches, will return to our backyards in December. Both the sides have evolved since they last played in Pakistan in 2005 and have recently been playing entertaining and exciting cricket. I remain confident this series will live up to the expectations of the global cricket fans who want to watch and enjoy competitive and thrilling matches. “Pakistan cricket fans have waited for almost 17 years to see elite England players in action. And although they have enjoyed watching a number of them live in the recent editions of the HBL Pakistan Super League, nation versus nation Test cricket is the pinnacle where international stars and heroes are born.” Clare Connor, ECB Interim Chief Executive Officer: “The return of our men’s Test team to Pakistan for the first time since 2005 will be an historic occasion. The opportunity to play Test cricket in front of passionate cricket-lovers in Pakistan after such a long time is something to be cherished. “We have been working closely with the PCB over recent months and I am grateful to them for everything they have done, and continue to do, to make our Test and T20 tours a mouth-watering prospect for all involved.” The three Tests will count towards the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23. No.4 ranked England are presently sitting in seventh position on the Test championship table, while sixth-ranked Pakistan are fifth. Schedule of Tests: 1-5 December – 1st Test, Rawalpindi 9-13 December – 2nd Test, Multan 17-21 December – 3rd Test, Karachi Schedule of T20Is (matches to start at 1930 PKT): 20 September – 1st T20I, Karachi 22 September – 2nd T20I, Karachi 23 September – 3rd T20I, Karachi 25 September – 4th T20I, Karachi 28 September – 5th T20I, Lahore 30 September – 6th T20I, Lahore 2 October – 7th T20I, Lahore      

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:-Mohammad Hasnain will replace Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Pakistan squad for the ACC T20 Asia Cup, which will be played in the United Arab Emirates from 27 August to 11 September. 22-year-old Hasnain has represented Pakistan in 18 T20Is in which he has taken 17 wickets. Hasnain will join the side from the United Kingdom, where he is representing Oval Invincibles in The Hundred competition. Meanwhile, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed and Usman Qadir will leave for Dubai in the wee hours of Tuesday. They will replace Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mehmood, who were part of the 16-member ODI squad against the Netherlands. Pakistan will take on India in their opener in Dubai on Sunday, 28 August, while their second Group A fixture will be against a qualifier (UAE, Kuwait, Singapore or Hong Kong) in Sharjah on Friday, 2 September. The Super Four matches will be played from 3-9 September. Pakistan squad for ACC T20 Asia Cup: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Asif Ali (Northern), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Khushdil Shah (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Naseem Shah (Southern Punjab), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab).

Sports Bulletin Report Rotterdam (Holland):-Pakistan showed nerves of steel to avoid embarrassment against 13th-placed Netherlands when they carved out nine runs victory in a low-scoring third match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League on Sunday. After six of the eight scheduled series of three ODIs each, third-placed Pakistan has 120 points with 12 wins, with the top three sides separated by five points. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan produced a dismal batting performance to stutter to 206 all-out in 49.4 overs. Nevertheless, and like they have done so many times in the past, they bounced back strongly with the ball to dismiss the Netherlands for 197. The home side required 56 runs off the final 10 overs, then 35 runs in 30 balls and finally, 14 runs in the last over that was bowled by Mohammad Wasim Jnr. Interestingly, Pakistan applied pressure on their inexperienced opponents by suffocating them for runs by bowling a total of 178 dot balls instead of taking wickets, which had appeared to be the only way to win the encounter at the halfway stage. While the bowlers stuck to the plan and maintained a tight line and length, the fielders backed them as well as they could to continue to increase the pressure. Babar Azam also demonstrated intelligent captaincy when he made timely bowling changes that didn’t allow the Dutch batters to dictate terms. All the Pakistan bowlers came to party and brought the smiles back on the faces of their captain, head coach and the bowling coach. Naseem Shah, playing his third ODI, took a five-fer and finished with figures of 10-0-33-5, while Mohammad Wasim provided excellent support with career-best figures of 9.2-0-36-4. Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mahmood, playing their first matches of the tour, returned figures of 10-0-37-0 and 8-0-39-0, respectively. Mohammad Nawaz conceded 41 off his 10 overs. The result was a heartbreak for Tom Cooper, who plays his professional cricket in Australia and notched up his third successive half-century of the series. After scoring 65 and 66 in the previous two losing causes, he top-scored with 62 from 105 balls with four fours. When he became the seventh batter to be dismissed in the 46th over with 33 runs required, it was curtains for the Dutch. After the Netherlands had slipped to 37 for three, Cooper added 71 runs for the fourth wicket with Vikramjit Singh (50). The 35-year-old veteran of 29 ODIs added another 56 runs for the sixth wicket with Teja Nidamanuru (24) after the home side were in serious bother at 116 for five. Earlier, electing to bat first after making four changes in the starting line-up, Pakistan played an unprecedented 179 dot balls to limp to 206 all out in 49.4 overs. Babar Azam top-scored with 91, fourth time he had been dismissed in the 90s in 92 matches. He reached his 22nd half-century from 84 balls, including 50 dot balls, while his remaining 41 runs came at a run-a-ball. Dropped when 20, Babar’s uncharacteristic and not-so-fluent innings included seven fours and two sixes, and ended when he offered a return catch to off-spinner Aryan Dutt. Babar, who was the sixth batter out at the score of 168 in the 43rd over, added 55 runs for the second wicket with Fakhar Zaman (26, 43 balls) and 46 runs for the third wicket with Salman Ali Agha (24, 42 balls). Mohammad Nawaz was the other batter who made some contribution to the Pakistan score with a 35-ball 27 with one four and two sixes. No.9 batter Naseem Shah provided some entertainment late in the order. In the nine balls he received, he successfully reviewed umpire’s decisions twice, survived a run-out but was involved in Zahid Mahmood’s run-out, before becoming the last-wicket to fall when he holed out to Logan Van Beek off Vivian Kingma, who finished with figures of two for 15. The most successful Dutch bowler was medium-pacer Bas de Leede, who took three for 50 off nine overs, but the bowler who impressed everyone was 19-year-old wrist spinner Shariz Ahmad, claimed the wicket of Salman and finished with figures of 8-0-41-1. The two changes in the top-order included opener Abdullah Shafique and wicketkeeper/batter Mohammad Haris, who replaced Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan, respectively. Debutant Abdullah lasted just five balls before being bowled by Kingma, while Haris faced 10 balls before he was caught by Tom Cooper inside the 30-yard circle off de Leede at a time when Pakistan were struggling and captain Babar Azam was standing at the non-striker’s end. Scores in brief: Pakistan beat the Netherlands by nine runs, Pakistan win series 3-0 Pakistan 206 all out, 49.4 overs (Babar Azam 91, Mohammad Nawaz 27, Fakhar Zaman 26, Salman Ali Agha 24; Bas de Leede 3-50, Vivian Kingma 2-15) Netherlands 197 all out, 49.2 overs (Tom Cooper 62, Vikramjit Singh 50, Teja Nidamanuru 24; Naseem Shah 5-33, Mohammad Wasim 4-36) Player of the match – Naseem Shah (Pakistan)

Sports Bulletin Report Rotterdam (Holland):-Opening batter Abdullah Shafique received the One Day International Cap in the 3rd One Day International match against Holland at Rotterdam on Sunday, as Pakistan skipper Babar Azam decided to bat first after winning that toss. Pakistan Playing XIs Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Agha Salman, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Zahid Mahmood, Shahnawaz Dahani Netherlands Playing XIs Vikramjit Singh, Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Tom Cooper, Scott Edwards (C & WK), Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Musa Ahmed, Shariz Ahmad, Aryan Dutt, Vivian Kingma Match Officials: Umpires:             Michael Gough (England) Rizwan Malik (Netherlands) TV Umpire: Adriaan van den Dries (Netherlands) Reserve Umpire               : Nitin Bathi (Netherlands) Match Referee: Chris Broad (England)

Sports Bulletin Report Dubai (UAE):-Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede has been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second ODI against Pakistan in Rotterdam. de Leede was found to have breached Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to the use of an audible obscenity during an international match. In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to de Leede’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period. The incident occurred in the 17th over of the Netherlands’ innings. de Leede played the ball directly to a fielder and used inappropriate language which was heard through the stump microphone and on the live broadcast, necessitating an apology to the public by the commentators. de Leede admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee, Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Michael Gough and Nitin Bathi, third umpire Rizwan Akram and fourth official Adriaan van den Dries 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.

Sports Bulletin Report Rotterdam (Holland):-Shaheen Shah Afridi has been advised 4-6 weeks rest by the PCB Medical Advisory Committee and independent specialists following latest scans and reports. This means Shaheen has been ruled out of the ACC T20 Asia Cup and home series against England, but is expected to return to competitive cricket in October with the New Zealand T20I tri-series, which will be followed by the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022. Shaheen had suffered a right knee ligament injury while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. PCB Chief Medical Officer, Dr Najeebullah Soomro: “I have spoken with Shaheen and he is understandably upset with the news, but he is brave young man who has vowed to come back strongly to serve his country and team. Although he has made progress during his rehabilitation in Rotterdam, it is now clear he will require more time and is likely to return to competitive cricket in October. “PCB’s Sports & Exercise Medicine Department will be working closely with the player over the coming weeks to ensure his safe return to competitive cricket.” Shaheen will stay with the squad to complete his rehabilitation. His replacement for the ACC T20 Asia Cup will be announced shortly. The Pakistan side will arrive in Dubai from Rotterdam on Monday.

Sports Bulletin Report Rotterdam (Holland):- Pakistan outclassed hosts Netherlands by seven wickets in second ODI, as the Mohammad Rizwan lifted Pakistan to third in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League with a comfortable seven wickets victory over the Netherlands on Thursday. Babar scored a strokeful 65-ball 57, while Rizwan completed 1,000 ODI runs in his 49th match on the way to 69 not out as Pakistan achieved the 187-run target in 33.4 overs. The two reliable and dependable batters had joined the act at the score of 11 for two and added 88 runs for the third wicket. Babar, who reached his 21st career half-century from 52 balls with six fours, struck seven fours, while Rizwan hit six fours and a six in an 82-ball innings. The wicketkeeper-batter had completed his first half-century in four matches from 72 balls with four fours. The two had paired together after Fakhar Zaman found a leading edge to be caught by Vivian Kingma off his own bowling. Four balls later, Kingma dismissed Imam-ul-Haq, who was caught by Logan van Beek at point. While Rizwan was innovative and cheeky, as always, Babar was elegant, graceful and attractive, as ever, hitting almost everything from the sweet-spot of his willow until he perished with a mishit off off-spinner Aryan Dutt. The two batters dominated the proceedings from the very start and immediately shifted the pressure back on the Netherlands who were aiming for more wickets after quickly removing the two openers. Following Babar’s departure, Salman Ali Agha joined Rizwan and returned unbeaten on 50, his maiden half-century in his second appearance. Salman showed signs of talent and skills when he played some delightful strokes, including his only six that turned out to be the winning shot that also brought him his 50. He faced 35 balls and hit five fours and two sixes, and added 92 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket. Earlier, the Netherlands elected to bat first and lost their first three wickets for eight runs and last seven wickets for 178 runs to be bowled out for 186 in 44.1 overs. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz equally shared six wickets between them conceding 16 and 42 runs, respectively, while Naseem Shah snapped up two for 27. 22-year-old Bas de Leede was the Netherlands’ leading scorer with an impressive 89 (120 balls, 2x4, 3x6) before he fell to Haris, while Tom Cooper followed up his 65 on Tuesday with 66 (74 balls, 7x4, 2x6). The two batters put on 109 runs for the fourth wicket. The third match of the series will be played on Sunday. Scores in brief: Pakistan beat the Netherlands by seven wickets in second ODI The Netherlands 186 all out, 44.1 overs (Bas de Leede 89, Tom Cooper 66; Haris Rauf 3-16, Mohammad Nawaz 3-42, Naseem Shah 2-27) Pakistan 191-3, 33.4 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 69 not out, Babar Azam 57, Salman Ali Agha 50 not out; Vivian Kingma 2-32) Player of the match: Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)

Bipin Dani Sri Lanka's batting all-rounder Shehan Jayasuriya, who is one among the few migrated players to the USA is a top scorer in the Minor League Cricket (MCL) with 647 runs. The 30-year-old cricketer is one among the four Sri Lankan professionals playing in the MCL in the USA. The other three are Amila Aponso, Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Milantha. Shehan Jayasuriya plays for the Silicon Valley Strikers team, which is being led by India's one-time U-19 World Cup winning squad Unmukt Chand. Incidentally, Unmukt Chand (519) and Lahiru Milantha (511 runs) are in the top ten scorers in the middle of the MCL season. The final will be played this month.  "I am so happy with what I have achieved and also this is my new chapter after I left Sri Lanka. I am so glad to get an opportunity to play here", Lahiru Milantha said over the telephone from the USA. Angelo Perera is likely to return to Sri Lanka for a few days. "My wife and a small kid (5 months) are there and I miss them. Will come there for a week to pick them", he said. As per the ICC rules, the migrated players can play for other national teams after three years.