Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): Sixteen teams from around the world will take part in the 41-match event where the future stars of women’s cricket will announce themselves over 15 days of competition from 18 January to 2 February 2025. Over and above these exciting matches will be 16 warm-up fixtures played from 13 to 16 January, in preparation for the main event.The second edition of this exciting tournament comes on the back of a successful inauguration in South Africa in 2023 where India beat England by seven wickets in a thrilling final to be crowned the first-ever winners. It will also be the hosts, Malaysia’s first appearance in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup as well as Samoa’s first appearance in an ICC World Cup event.ICC CEO, Geoff Allardice said: “We are delighted to announce the schedule for the second edition of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup and bringing an ICC event of this stature to Malaysia for the first time since the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2008. This is a special event to the ICC and forms an important part of our Global Growth Strategy of raising the profile of women’s cricket and further growing the game around the world. It is also a unique opportunity to introduce our vast global audiences to the future stars of the sport. We look forward to building on the success from the foundation laid at the inaugural event in South Africa in 2023. We wish all the teams the very best of luck in their preparation and to the Malaysian Cricket Association in organising the event.”Host Tournament Director for the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup 2025, Dinesh Muthuraman said: "Malaysia is proud to host the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2025, continuing our tradition of supporting the growth of cricket on the global stage. In 2008, we had the honour of hosting the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, where current stars like Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Trent Boult among many others, showcased their talents. Now, it is the turn of women’s cricket, and we are confident that this U19 Women’s T20 World Cup will be a launching pad for the next generation of cricketing legends. Women’s cricket is experiencing unprecedented growth both in Malaysia and around the world. We are fully confident that this World Cup will further accelerate that momentum, leading to significant developments in the sport, especially for women’s cricket.”Groups (4):Group A - India (A1), West Indies (A2), Sri Lanka (A3) and Malaysia (A4), playing at Bayuemas Oval in Selangor.Group B - England (B1), Pakistan (B2), Ireland (B3) and USA (B4) playing at Dato’ Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy (JCA Oval), Johor.Group C - New Zealand (C1), South Africa (C2), Africa’s Qualifier (C3) and Samoa (C4) and playing at Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak.Group D - Australia (D1), Bangladesh (D2), Asia’s Qualifier (D3) and Scotland (D4) and playing at UKM YSD Oval in Selangor.Schedule (U19 Women’s T20 World Cup):January 18: Australia v Scotland, 10:30 am, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 18: England v Ireland, 10:30 am, JCA Oval, JohorJanuary 18: Samoa v Africa Qualifier, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)January 18: Bangladesh v Asia Qualifier, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 18: Pakistan v USA, 2:30 pm, JCA Oval, JohorJanuary 18: New Zealand v South Africa, 2:30 pm, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)January 19: Sri Lanka v Malaysia, 10:30 am, Bayuemas OvalJanuary, 19: India v West Indies, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas OvalJanuary 20: Australia v Bangladesh, 10:30 am, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 20: Ireland v USA, 10:30 am, JCA Oval, JohorJanuary 20: New Zealand v Africa Qualifier, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)Januray 20: Scotland v Asia Qualifier, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 20: England v Pakistan, 2:30 pm, JCA Oval, JohorJanuary 20: South Africa v Samoa, 2:30 pm, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)January 21: West Indies v Sri Lanka, 10:30 am, Bayuemas OvalJanuary 21: India v Malaysia, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas OvalJanuary 22: Bangladesh v Scotland, 10:30 am, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 22: England v USA, 10:30 am, JCA Oval, JohorJanuary 22: New Zealand v Samoa, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)January 22: Australia v Asia Qualifier, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 22: Pakistan v Ireland, 2:30 pm, JCA Oval, JohorJanuary 22: South Africa v Africa Qualifier, 2:30 pm, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)January 23: Malaysia v West Indies, 10:30 am, Bayuemas OvalJanuary 23: India v Sri Lanka, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas OvalJanuary 24: B4 v C4, 10:30 am, JCA Oval, JohorJanuary 24: A4 v D4, 2:30 pm, JCA Oval, JohorJanuary 25: Super Six - B2 v C3, 10:30 am, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 25: Super Six - B1 v C2, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)January 25: Super Six - A3 v D1, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 25: Super Six - C1 v B3, 2:30 pm, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)January 26: Super Six - A2 v D3, 10:30 am, Bayuemas OvalJanuary 26: Super Six - A1 v D2, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas OvalJanuary 27: Super Six - B1 v C3, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)January 28: Super Six - A3 v D2, 10:30 am, Bayuemas OvalJanuary 28: Super Six - C1 v B2, 10:30 am, Sarawak Cricket Ground (SCG)January 28: Super Six - A1 v D3, 2:30 pm, BayuemJas OvalJanuary 29: Super Six - C2 v B3, 10:30 am, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 29: Super Six - A2 v D1, 2:30 pm, UKM YSD OvalJanuary 31: Semi-Final 1, 10:30 am, Bayuemas OvalJanuary 31: Semi-Final 2, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas OvalFebruary 2: Final, 2:30 pm, Bayuemas Oval

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: Islamabad Cricket Club of Blinds (ICCB) held a reception to honor Tanveer Ahmed, the internationally acclaimed blind archer, who recently secured two gold medals at the World Ranking Event in the Czech Republic and the 1440 Double FITA Round in Belgium 2024. The event was marked by a gathering of dignitaries, friends, and well-wishers who came together to celebrate Tanveer's exceptional achievements at a local hotel here. The event was graced by the Chairman, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) and the Secretary General of the Pakistan Archery Federation (PAF), who were special guests on this occasion. Both dignitaries expressed their admiration for Tanveer Ahmed's dedication and skill, and announced their continued support for his future endeavors. Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Secretary General PAF further pledged to approach the Pakistan Sports Board to formally recognize and honor Tanveer's remarkable contributions to the sport.In a significant announcement, Sultan Shah revealed plans to present Tanveer Ahmed with a special award during a ceremony on the eve of the World Cup Cricket for the Blind 2024, which will take place in November later this year.During the ceremony, Tanveer Ahmed emphasized the urgent need for improved facilities and incentives to enhance the sport of archery in Pakistan. He called on the Pakistan Archery Federation to take more proactive measures to promote blind archery across the nation. The event also featured a heartfelt speech by Tanveer’s coach, Mohammad Ijaz, who summarized Tanveer's outstanding achievements and praised his unwavering commitment to the sport.The reception concluded with a luncheon, where General Secretary of the Islamabad Cricket Club of the Blind, Naveed Hussain Abbasi, presented Tanveer Ahmed with a souvenir shield in recognition of his accomplishments. Abbasi also announced a cash award of Rs. 50,000 for the celebrated archer, further acknowledging his extraordinary success on the international stage.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The Independence Day Punjab Junior Tennis Championship 2024 was played at Sports Board Punjab Tennis Academy Nishtar Park Lahore under the banner of Punjab Lawn Tennis Association.Senior Vice President (SVP) of Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) Capt (Retd) Fazeel Asghar, SVP, Rashid Malik, Waqar Nisar Finance Secretary PLTA, Hassan Said, Qadir Nawaz, Col (R)Asif Dar, and Nauman Aleem were the main guests at the closing ceremony.Results (Finals):Boys’ U18: Asad zaman beat Hamza Ali Rizwan 6-2, 6-4Boys’ U18 Doubles: Asad Zaman & Hamza Ali Rizwan beat Yafat Nadeem & Abdullah Pirzada 8-6Girls’ U18: Hajra Suhail beat Bismel Zia 6-2Boys’ U16: Abdur Rehman beat Abdullah Pirzada 8-4Boys’ U14: Mohammad Muaz beat Mohammad Huzaima 6-3Boys /Girls U-14 Doubles: Abdur Rehman & Hajra Suhail beat Mustafa Uzair Rana & Mohammad Ibraheem Hussain Gill 6-4Girls’ U14: Hajra Suhail beat Bismel Zia 6-3Boys’ U12: Mohammad Muaz beat Mohammad Ayan 6-4Girls U12: Hajra Suhail beat Khadija Khalil 6-2Boys/Girls U10: Mohammad Ayan beat Mohammad Ibraheem Hussain Gill 6-1Boys/Girls U8: Gold Medal: Mamnoon BariSilver Medal: Shehreen UmerBronze Medal: Eman ShahbazBoys/Girls U6:Gold Medal: Wali AbdullahSilver Medal: Faiz Uzair RanaBronze Medal: Mohammad Aliyan Khan.

Pakistan earn a massive lead of 245 runs against Bangladesh “A” in a four-day fixtureAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Left-handed batter Umar Amin’s three figures innings (177 runs) demands to include him in the first Test match against Bangladesh, which will start on August 21 at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi, as his (Umer) innings against Bangladesh A put hosts in driving seat on the second day of the four-match contest at Islamabad Club cricket ground.At stumps, Shaheens were 367 for four in 90 overs, with a first innings lead of 245 runs. Saad Khan (31 not out, 39b, 6x4s) and Kamran Ghulam (20 not out, 63b, 1x4,1x6), will resume batting on the third day, which will begin at 09.30am tomorrow. For Bangladesh ‘A’, left-arm spinner Hasan Murad bagged two wickets for 49 runs.Earlier, after resuming their first innings at the overnight score of two for no loss, the home side were dealt a blow when left-handed batter Saim Ayub returned back to the hut, scoring 11 off 28 balls, which included a four. Mohammad Huraira was the second batter to be dismissed, scoring 39 off 67 balls, hitting five boundaries.The experienced Umar was then joined by captain Saud Shakeel and the pair knitted a 195-run partnership for the third wicket. During the partnership, left-handed Umar brought up his century. He fell 23 runs short of a double-century, and was dismissed for 177 off 211 balls, smashing 23 fours and three towering sixes.After Umar’s departure, fellow southpaw Saud soon followed the centurion and was stumped off the bowling of Hasan for 76 with the scorecard reading 322 for four. Saud’s innings included nine boundaries across 132 deliveries.Scores in brief (Day-2):Bangladesh 'A' 122 all out, 44.3 overs (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 65; Naseem Shah 3-24, Mir Hamza 3-33, Mohammad Rameez Jnr 2-41)Pakistan Shaheens 367-4, 90 overs (Umar Amin 177, Saud Shakeel 76, Mohammad Huraira 39, Saad Khan 31 not out, Kamran Ghulam 20 not out; Hasan Murad 2-49, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 1-67, Nayeem Hasan 1-81)Pakistan Shaheens lead by 245 runs

Islamabad (Press Release): Punjab emerged victorious in both the men's and women's categories of the Independence Day Inter-Provincial Basketball Championship, organized by the Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF) at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad.In the men's final, Punjab lifted the title after a hard-fought victory over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), securing a win with a score of 69-68 points. Abdullah scored 22 and Mohammad Taimour scored 15 points for winning side while Umer Khan scored 15 points for KP. Meanwhile, Islamabad A secured third place by defeating Islamabad B in a closely contested match at 67-62.On the women’s side, Punjab dominated the finals, overwhelming Islamabad A with a commanding 64-17 victory. Ayman Ali and Sana were standout performers, contributing 16 and 12 points respectively to Punjab's triumph. In the third-place match, Sindh outplayed Islamabad B, winning 50-29.  The closing ceremony of the five-day championship was graced by Federal Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Nadeem Irshad Kayani and Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Yasir Pirzada as chief guests. Also in attendance were president of the Pakistan Basketball Federation Brig (Retd) Mohammad Iftikhar Mansoor, Secretary General Khalid Bashir, Senior Vice President Imtiaz Rafi Butt, President of the Federal Basketball Association Ejaz Rafi Butt, Secretary General Ouj e Zahoor, Azam Dar, and other distinguished personalities.

BIPIN DANIIn a heartwarming meeting that bridged the worlds of art and sports, veteran Sri Lankan artist Mueen Saheed recently had the pleasure of meeting Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli during Team India's recent visit to the country.During this meeting, Saheed presented Kohli with a deeply personal portrait featuring Kohli, his wife Anushka Sharma, and their late dog Bruno. The painting, intended to evoke joyful memories of their beloved pet, was warmly received by Kohli, who expressed his delight and gratitude.Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, the artist said, "While Kohli made arrangements for this large portrait to be taken to his home in India, he leaves behind another signed painting of my work. He has promised me to visit my gallery when he revisits Sri Lanka again. This smaller painting shows Kohli in a stance of action, showcasing his batting prowess. Mueen Saheed has long been a passionate cricket enthusiast. His works have previously paid homage to cricket legends like Kumar Sangakkara and Sachin Tendulkar,He is a contemporary of renowned Sri Lankan artists Seneka Senanayake and Laki Senanayake, has exhibited extensively around the world and continues to be one of the most compelling voices for abstract art in Sri Lanka. This recent meeting with Virat Kohli is a testament to Saheed's enduring influence and the universal appeal of his art, transcending boundaries and connecting with people from all walks of life.  

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) will organize a Cash Award Ceremony to honor the U18 Volleyball Team for their remarkable achievements on Monday (August 19, 2024, at 02:00 PM at the AFOHS Club Falcon Complex, Falcon Complex PAF Falcon Complex Gulberg 3 Lahore.According to an official of PVF, the ceremony will celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the U18 Volleyball Team, which recently secured two significant achievements including a bronze medal at the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship, and a gold medal at the CAVA U18 Volleyball Championship. Chairman PVF, Ch. Mohammad Yaqoob will be the chief guest in the ceremony.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Punjab’s both teams men’s and women’s qualified for the finals after beating their respective opponents in the semifinals of the Jashan-a-Azadi Inter-Provincial Basketball Championships here at Laquiat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Tuesday. Also, KPK’s men and Islamabad’s women storm into the finals, as both the finals of the tournament will be played on Wednesday (August 14, 2024) at the same venue.In the first Women’s semifinal, Punjab defeated Sindh 64-32. Punjabi females were leading 40-13 at the half-time. Khadija Mushtaq scored 17 points, and Aiman Mahmood scored 16 points for Punjab, and played a vital role in team’s victory, while Maryam scored 10 points and Aqsi scored 9 points for Sindh. In the second semi-final, Islamabad A defeated Islamabad-B by 36-24 after an interesting match. Maria scored 12 points and Amani scored 7 points from Islamabad- A, while Shanzey scored 9 points and Shahbano scored five points from Islamabad-B. In the men's first semifinal, Punjab beat Islamabad-A by 81-56. The score at half-time was 41-28 in favor of the winning team. Mohammad Taimur scored 22 points and Mohammad Saifullah scored 21 points for the winning team, while Ali Hamza Kazmi scored 23 points and Mohammad Usman scored 7 points for Islamabad-A.In the second Semifinal, Khyber Pakhtunekawa (KPK) thrashed Islamabad-B 70-51 to confirm their berth in the final. Abdul Wahab 23, Bilal Khan 10 were major contributors to KPK. Haroon Rashid 15, Behram Raees 10 were the top scorers for the losing side Islamabad-A. Matches were supervised by Mohammad Praim Shahzad, Moazzam Naveed Rao, Mohammad Mudassar, Yasir Ghafoor, Umar Mehmood, Adeel S Raza, Gul Jamal, Naveed Ahmed Beeda and Saadat Jahangir. Brig Mohammad Iftikhar Mansoor, President Pakistan Basketball Federation and sizeable spectators also witnessed the matches.

Naseem Shah (3-24), and Mir Hamza (3-33) performances thrash Bangladesh A batting lineAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: A couple of sparking performances with red-ball, Naseem Shah (3-24), and Mir Hamza (3-33), constrained Bangladesh A on a meager total of 122 runs in 44.3 overs in their first innings of the four-day match here at Islamabad Club cricket ground on Tuesday. Pakistan scored 2 runs without wasting any batter at the stumps on Day-1, when the match called-off due to bad light in capital city Islamabad.Bangladesh captain Anamul Haque won the coin battle and decided to bat first, as the match started at 2:00 pm instead of 10:00 am in the morning owing to wet out-field. Apart from Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who top-scored with a gritty 65 off 116 balls hitting nine fours, only Mominul Haque (11, 15b, 2x4s), Mushfiqur Rahim (14, 27b, 1x4, 1x6) and Rejaur Rehman Raja (10, 17b, 1x4) got into double figures.Mahmudul and Mushfiqur were also involved in the most productive partnership for Bangladesh A which was a 38-run stand, which was broken by Mohammad Ali. The Shaheens pacers shared eight wickets among them with Naseem Shah, making his return to red-ball cricket after more than a year, taking the 3-24 in 8.3 overs. Hamza bagged as many wickets giving away 33 runs in 11 overs.Ali was the most economical bowler as he conceded only 14 runs in 11 overs, picking up the valuable wicket of Mushfiqur, including six maidens. Umar Amin provided an important breakthrough for Shaheens as he dismissed the well-set Mahmudul. Leg-spinner Mohammad Rameez Jnr eked out two wickets for 41 runs in 11 overs.Scores in brief (Day-1):Pakistan Shaheens trail by 120 runsBangladesh 'A' 122 all out, 44.3 overs (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 65; Naseem Shah 3-24, Mir Hamza 3-33, Mohammad Rameez Jnr 2-41)Pakistan Shaheens 2-0, 2 overs (Saim Ayub 2 not out) 

LAHORE: (Press Release) Punjab University (PU) players created history by winning 9 medals for the first time, showing excellent performance in the Asian Rowing Indoor Championship 2024, which was held in Penang, Malaysia. PU students won 5 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze medal. As many as 19 countries including India, Saudi Arab, Iran, and Iraq participated in the event. PU rowing team participated in the championship under the supervision of Director Sports Zubair Ahmad Butt and Coach Abdul Rehman. Abdul Rahman of PU Department of Economics claimed 2 gold medals and one silver medal while Zarak Khan from Hailey College won 2 gold medals. Gohar Ayub of Sports Sciences won 1 gold and 1 silver medal while Iqra from Sports Sciences won 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.Abdul Rehman and Zarak Khan were declared the best-time performers in the championship. Students of Punjab University won two gold medals in the team event. PU Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr. Khalid Mahmood congratulated the players for this wonderful, and historical achievement.He said that the players of PU made the country, the institution, and the nation proud. He said that day and night hard work of the Department of Sports, coaches, and players paid off. He said that despite limited resources, PU provided Rs 1.5 million to players to participate in the event. Director Sports Zubair Butt thanked the PU VC for encouraging sports on campus.