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England Cricket News: Jacob Bethell awarded central contract upgrade
ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk): England and Warwickshire batter Jacob Bethell has been awarded an England Men’s Central Contract upgrade. The 21-year-old, who made his Test debut last week during England’s first Test victory over New Zealand in Christchurch, has signed a two-year contract running until September 2026. This follows his recent development contract, awarded just last month.Bethell made an impressive start to his Test career, scoring a maiden half-century in the second innings to help secure England’s win at Hagley Oval. In addition, three of England’s prominent seamers – Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Matthew Potts – have all extended their contracts until September 2026.England Men Centrally Contracted Players 2024/2025 (2 years): Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Mark Wood (Durham)England One-Year Central Contracts: Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Jack Leach (Somerset), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Reece Topley (Surrey), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)England Development contracts: Josh Hull (Leicestershire), John Turner (Hampshire).
Dominant China outgun England women to cap off incredible year
Islamabad (Sports Desk): Hosts China rallied from their first loss of the new FIH Hockey Pro League season a day earlier with a dominant victory over a young England side in Hangzhou on Wednesday.All the goals in their 4-0 victory were scored by different players in a match that saw the Chinese wrapping up an incredible year, in which they claimed Olympic silver, on a successful note (Women’s) China beat England (4-0): China ended their long year with a convincing 4-0 win over a young English side, pressing effectively and making excellent use of penalty corner deflections. It was another exciting start as England created a clear scoring opportunity in the opening minute, and China put penalty corners over the bar in the third and seventh.The hosts enjoyed more possession throughout, and Zhang Ying had the best chance of the first quarter when a long ball found her unmarked at the top of the circle, only for Miriam Pritchard to close down the angle well to deflect the ball wide of the English goal.China opened the scoring in the 17th minute, Chen Yang undoing Pritchard with a penalty corner deflection from the p-spot. England had a couple of chances to restore parity, threading a pass between the goalkeeper and a diving striker at the back post in the 20th minute, and having a penalty corner blocked by Chinese runners two minutes later. China then missed by inches from a recycled penalty corner in the 24th minute, but England immediately coughed up possession from the 16-yard hit and Ying completed the move with a tap-in to double their lead. He Jiangxin then gave China a 3-0 lead heading to half-time with another penalty corner deflection in the 28th minute. China were very much in control in the second half, holding possession well and pressuring the English into turnovers and errors. England found themselves defending desperately to save penalty corners in the 34th and 35th minutes, and then missed a 37th-minute penalty corner of their own that might have given them a platform to fight back in the match.The teams both missed with penalty corner variations at the end of the third quarter, and as the clock ticked down in the fourth, China continued to dominate. The Chinese had the final say with a 55th-minute field goal, Chen Yi intercepting a poor overhead clearance and working the ball to Zhang Wenli who popped it beautifully to Chen Yujun behind the English defence for a neat finish.
BADMINTON - National 04 Dec, 2024
Sports Bulletin ReportTaxila: The Chairman Pakistan Ordinance Factories (POF) Board National Ranking Badminton Championships started on Wednesday here at POF Sports Complex in Wah Cantt, as Shafiq Ahmed DICR graced the opening ceremony as chief guest and Member POF Board along with Col. Ghulam Rubani Deputy Director Sports POF, Qaisar Bhatti Secretary Sports POF Senior Vice President PBF Tayyab Sohail and Raja Azhar Secretary General PBF were present at the occasion. After the recitation of Holy Quran the chief guest introduced the players and officials of the championships by SVP and Secretary General Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) Raja Azhar. Later on Shafiq Ahmed inaugurate the event by hitting the shuttlecock. This is pertinent to mention here that Tariq Wadood (8 Time National Champion) also visited the venue, the PBF officials introduce the legend amongst the players and secretary POF and secretary PBF presented the shield to Tariq Wadood.Results (Men’s Singles Round-I):Irfan Saeed (Wapda) beat Ahmed Faizan (Wapda) by 21-9, 21-4Mohammad Ahmad (PB) beat Abuzar Rasheed (SNGPL) by 21-17, 21-12Mohammad Adnan (Army) beat Mohammad Jamal (KP) by 21-15, 21-15Abdur Rehman (Wapda) beat Hussain Shahzad (PB) by 19-21, 21-16, 21-9Azeem Sarwar (Wapda) beat Qasim Rasheed (ISL) by 21-11, 21-15Abdullah Latif (Army) beat Sohaib Yaseen (PB) by 21-7, 21-7Jalees Konain (SNGPL) beat Hafiz Abdul Manan (PB) by 21-13, 21-11Muqeet Tahir (Wapda) beat Mekaeel Khan (KP) by 21-8, 21-9Tahir Khan (Police) beat Mohammad Uzair Khan (KP) by 21-14, 21-13Umer Jahanghir (SNGPL) beat Fahad Ahmed (KP) by 21-11, 21-13Ahsan Asif (Wapda) beat Faiz (Army) by 19-21, 21-18, 21-12Raja Zulqarnain (Army) beat Akif Badar (PB) by 21-13, 21-10Hamdullah (KP) beat Danyaal Shahzada (KP) by 21-15, 21-13Tehseen Ullah (KP) beat Hamza Khan (KP) by 21-19, 18-21, 21-11Aoun Abbas (Wapda) beat Faizan Ali (PB) by 21-16, 21-18Ali Mehdi (Wapda) beat Umair Khan (ISL) by 22-20, 21-17Ibrahim Rasheed (PB) Shabbar Hussain (Wapda) by 21-12, 21-15Women’s Singles (Round-I):Ghazala Siddique (Wapda) beat Alja Tariq (Army) by 21-14, 21-9Farzana Ali (Wapda) beat Sidra Asif (Wapda) by 13-21, 23-21, 21-11Umama Usman (SNGPL) beat Shahnaz Shah (Wapda) by 21-7, 21-3Sehar Abdul Majeed (PB) beat Sehra Akram (Wapda) by 21-4, 21-3Saima Waqas (Wapda) beat Aimen Fatima (PB) by 21-10, 21-18Zubaira Islam (SNGPL) beat Zainab Azam (ISL) by 21-7, 21-7Kanzul Eman (PB) beat Aqsa Zikriya (SNGPL) by 14-21, 21-12, 21-19Laiba Masoud (Wapda) beat Palwasha Bashir (Sindh) by 10-21, 23-21, 22-20Sana Hanif (SNGPL) beat Faryal Arshad (KP) by 21-5, 21-9
TENNIS - Local News 03 Dec, 2024
LAHORE (SBR) Pakistan’s top-ranked ITF senior tennis player, Rashid Malik, continued to demonstrate his exceptional prowess on the court, securing a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Husnain Mirza in the seniors 60+ singles quarterfinals of the RLK Group ITF Masters Championship 2024. Organised by the Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA), the prestigious tournament is underway at the Sports Board Punjab Tennis Academy, Nishtar Park, Lahore, showcasing remarkable talent from across the nation and beyond. Besides Malik, Nauman Aleem also secured a place in the seniors 60+ singles semifinals, with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6 victory against Tahir Butt. In the seniors 65+ singles quarterfinals, former Davis Cupper Inam ul Haq displayed his prowess, defeating Kh Abdul Muqeet 6-2, 6-2. M Babar followed with an impressive 6-0, 6-1 win over Raashed Zaheer. In the seniors 35+ singles quarterfinals, Inam Gul delivered a dominant performance, overpowering Mubeen Akram with a flawless 6-0, 6-0 victory. The seniors 40+ singles quarterfinals witnessed exciting matches as Kashif Rehmat comfortably defeated Sameer Noorani 6-2, 6-2, while Tariq Masih swept past Fazal Qadir Khan with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 scoreline. In the seniors 45+ singles quarterfinals, Ahmad Waqas Basit impressed with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 win against Umer Dilshad. Muhammad Asghar displayed resilience in his 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Ahsan Wali, while Shehryar Salamat cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Qadir Nawaz. The competition in the seniors 50+ singles quarterfinals was equally intense. Ahsan Razzaq defeated Mustafa Pirzada 6-2, 6-2, and Irfan Ullah Khan outplayed Anwar ul Haq 6-4, 6-3. In a gripping match, Munir Gill edged past Irfan Ahmad 6-0, 7-6, while Ashar Ali Khan overcame Pervez Hassan 7-6, 6-2. In the seniors 55+ singles quarterfinals, Imran Siddiqui advanced with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win over Kaffee Siddiqui. The seniors 70+ singles quarterfinals saw Christophe Bureau outlast Kh Khurram in a thrilling 6-4, 7-5 encounter, while M Saeed Ikram Ullah prevailed over Salah ud Din 6-1, 6-1. Finally, in the seniors 75+ singles, Dr Zulfqar Malik dominated Abdul Rauf with a comprehensive 6-0, 6-1 victory, further underscoring the high level of competition in the championship. The Punjab Lawn Tennis Association extends its gratitude to the RLK Group for their sponsorship, ensuring the success of this landmark event in Pakistan’s tennis calendar.
Pakistan become new T20 Blind Cricket World Cup Champion
Green Shirts outclass Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the final; Nisar Ali wins "player of the match" awardSports Bulletin ReportMultan (December 3, 2024): Pakistan's blind cricket team defeated Bangladesh to clinch the title of the 4th T20 Blind Cricket World Cup. In the final held at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Pakistan secured a commanding 10-wicket victory, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament and winning the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup for the first time.Bangladesh, batting first after winning the toss, set a target of 140 runs, scoring 139 for 7 in their 20 overs. Arif Hussain scored 54 off 52 balls, while Mohammad Salman added 31 off 35 balls. Pakistan's Babar Ali took two wickets for 24 runs in his 4 overs.In reply, Pakistan chased down the target in just 10.2 overs without losing a wicket. Captain Nisar Ali led the charge with an unbeaten 72, while Mohammad Safdar contributed 47 runs.During the prize distribution ceremony, World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) President Syed Sultan Shah, alongside WBCC Director of Global Development Raymond Moxley, presented the winning trophy and a cash prize of PKR 1 million to Pakistan's captain Nisar Ali. Bangladesh's captain Ariful Islam received the runner-up trophy and a cash prize of PKR 500,000.Nisar Ali was named Player of the Match for the final, while Bangladesh's Arif Hussain was recognized as the Emerging Player of the tournament. In the individual categories, Bangladesh's Azmat Hussain was named the Best Player in the B1 category, Pakistan's Nematullah in the B2 category, and Sri Lanka's Dumat Sandruwan in the B3 category.
Syed Sultan Shah re-elected as President of WBCC, Rajanish Henry Secretary
Multan (SBR): Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council, has been re-elected as the President of World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) for the upcoming two-year term. Rajanish Henry from India was successfully elected as the Secretary General. The 26th General Council meeting of the World Blind Cricket Council took place at a local hotel in Multan, with representatives from the cricket boards of Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan in attendance. Officials from India, England, and New Zealand participated online. Other elected officials include Nepal's Pawan Ghimire as First Vice President, South Africa's Isaac Bidla as Second Vice President, Australia's Raymond Moxley as Global Development Director, Pakistan's Tahir Mehmood Butt as Technical Director, and India's Chandrashekhar as Finance Director. South Africa’s Michael De Silva was elected as Assistant Secretary, Sri Lanka’s Sudesh Tharanga as Director of Public Relations, and the Regional Development Directors include Bangladesh’s Moin Iqbal for Asia and South Africa’s Ndumiso Nyawose for the African region.The members approved the minutes of the previous meeting. After being re-elected as the President of WBCC, Syed Sultan Shah thanked the cricket boards of all blind cricket-playing nations for re-electing him to the position. He expressed plans to introduce new reforms in blind cricket and take steps to promote the sport in countries like the United States and Kenya. New dark glasses for B1 players have been introduced. Syed Sultan Shah mentioned that Pakistan and India are among the top teams in world blind cricket and that both countries have a great working relationship. However, due to visa issues, the teams have not been able to play against each other. Therefore, it was decided that future World Cups and other international events would be held at neutral venues, allowing both countries to compete. The re-elected WBCC President also praised the services of former WBCC Secretary General Raymond Moxley for blind cricket. It was decided at the meeting that, going forward, no player can participate in international competitions without obtaining a site classification certificate from the International Blind Sports Association.
Pakistan to host inaugural U23 World Squash Championship in 2025
Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: An exciting new major competition, a world championship for squash players aged 22 and below, is to be played in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2025. The inaugural WSF U23 World Squash Championship will be hosted by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) and contested from 6-10 April 2025. It will feature a men's singles event and a women's singles event, with both championships having a draw size of 32 players. Entry in each event will be limited to a maximum of two representatives of a National Federation, and players will receive a share of a $60,000USD prize pot and PSA ranking points for participating.WSF CEO William Louis-Marie said: "The WSF U23 World Squash Championship represents a great development for the global squash community. It will give up and coming players from all over the world the opportunity to test their skills against the world's best, as well as provide an invaluable bridge between the WSF World Junior Championships and senior events. My thanks to President Zaheer Ahmad Babar and the rest of the PSF team for their enthusiasm and drive to host what will no doubt be a special event. Karachi is a great choice to host the first edition of the championships, with Pakistan famous for producing some of the finest athletes in the history of the sport, including our Emeritus President Jahangir Khan, as well as a promising grassroots scene."PSF Senior Vice President Kazim Hammad said: "The championship is a great step in the right direction. This new initiative will encourage young players to continue training for another 5 years to wear the coveted world crown. In the process there will certainly be a mushroom growth of talent which could have faded away. Pakistan squash will go all out to ensure this new venture is successful. I compliment Vice President of Pakistan Squash and President Sind Squash to have accepted the challenge and sponsored and hosted the Championship in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan Squash Federation President Zaheer Ahmad Babar complimented the PSF team and wished them well and assured both Pakistan Squash's and Sind Squash's full support in achieving their goals. He added that Pakistan Squash will continue to host major events with a vision to make Pakistan the future hub of squash championships.”
England Women seal victory for IT20 series clean sweep in South Africa
Sports Bulletin ReportCenturion (South Africa): England Women recorded a nine-wicket victory against South Africa in their final IT20 match of the series at SuperSport Park, Centurion.Heather Knight’s side headed into the match having sealed a series win after taking a 2-0 lead earlier this week. The tourists raced to their target of 125 with 51 balls to spare, opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge finishing unbeaten on 53 and Sophia Dunkley on 24 not out.Opener Maia Bouchier was England's only dismissal, caught by Nondumiso Shangase for 35 from 21 balls, after a quick 56 in 5.4 overs.England won the toss and chose to bowl. Anneke Bosch and Faye Tunnicliffe were dismissed by Lauren Filer and Lauren Bell respectively in the first two overs.The Proteas were 45-5 but Nadine de Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase hit a combined half century which proved a huge contribution to the total.Charlie Dean took 3-26 and a run out while Bell took two; Filer, Freya Kemp and Sophie Ecclestone with a wicket each. The two sides now contest a three-match ODI series, starting in Kimberley on Wednesday 4 December.T20i series:Sunday, 24 November: South Africa vs England – Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium, East London – England won by four wicketsWednesday, 27 November: South Africa vs England – Willowmoore Park, Benoni – England won by 36 runsSaturday, 30 November: South Africa vs England – SuperSport Park, Centurion – England won by nine wicketsODI series:Wednesday, 4 December: South Africa vs England – Kimberley Oval, KimberleySunday, 8 December: South Africa vs England – Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, DurbanWednesday, 11 December: South Africa vs England – JB Marks Oval, PotchefstroomTest match:15-18 December: South Africa v England - Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Pakistan and Bangladesh set to meet in Blind T20 Cricket World Cup final
Multan (SBR): Pakistan and Bangladesh have stormed into the final of the 4th T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, while Sri Lanka and Nepal were eliminated from the race. The highlight of the semifinals included a record-breaking knock by Pakistan’s Kamran Akhtar, who smashed the fastest fifty in T20 Blind Cricket World Cup history. In the first semifinal at Multan Cricket Stadium, Pakistan won the toss and invited Nepal to bat first. Nepal managed 94 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their 20 overs, with Durga Datta top-scoring with 40 off 42 balls and Ramesh contributing 17 not out off 30 deliveries. Pakistan's Matiullah bowled brilliantly, taking three wickets for just five runs in his four overs. Pakistan's openers made short work of the target, reaching 95 runs without losing a wicket in just 5.3 overs. Kamran Akhtar showcased blistering form, scoring an unbeaten 63 off 21 balls, including one six and 12 boundaries. His half-century came off just 14 balls, setting a new record for the fastest fifty in T20 Blind Cricket World Cup history. Babar Ali supported him with an unbeaten 32. Kamran Akhtar was named player of the match, with the award presented by World Blind Cricket Council Secretary General Raymond Moxley alongside PBCC Chairman Syed Sultan Shah. The second semifinal saw Bangladesh edge past Sri Lanka in a nail-biting contest. Batting first, Bangladesh put up a formidable 244/6 in their 20 overs, with an additional six penalty runs awarded for a slow over rate by Sri Lanka. Mohammad Salman played a stunning innings, scoring 97 runs off 49 balls with 14 boundaries, while Arif Hussain contributed 81 runs off 56 balls, hitting 10 fours. In response, Sri Lanka fought valiantly, posting 238/4 in their 20 overs. Chandana led the charge with a brilliant 86 off 54 balls, and Dinesh added 35 off 28 balls. However, their efforts fell short by six runs. Mohammad Salman was declared player of the match for his match-winning performance. The final between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, at 11:00 am at Multan Cricket Stadium.
Former World No.1 & squash legend Jansher Khan Inducted Into “PSA Hall Of Fame”
ISLAMABAD (SBR): Pakistan squash legend Jansher Khan has been inducted into the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Hall of Fame during a special induction evening at the Hong Kong Football Club last night.Held on the eve of the Hong Kong Squash Open, which will be held December 2-8, Khan and Malaysia's Nicol David became the third and fourth members of the PSA Hall of Fame, which was launched earlier this year to recognise the achievements of the game’s most influential characters, past and present.Khan and David have joined inaugural inductees Susan Devoy and Jahangir Khan in the PSA Hall of Fame as the association continues to celebrate its greatest icons.A key part of the Pakistani dominance of the sport throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jansher Khan won the World Championships eight times - a record in the men's game - and also added six British Open titles to a glittering trophy haul.A World No.1 for 97 months throughout his career, Khan's final professional title count of 99 is the greatest of any player since records began.Jansher Khan said: "I feel very happy because Hong Kong is my second home and I played the Hong Kong Open for many years and I won eight Hong Kong Opens, so Hong Kong is really, for me, it is the best place. And I'm very happy to come to Hong Kong see my old friends. It's an honour to get this award”.
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